Wrangle over CEO goes on

By Sarah Schwager
THE City of Casey chief executive position has again caused a storm at council this week.
Debate over whether the council’s top job should be advertised saw three councillors put forward notices of motions at Tuesday’s council meeting and another two further motions.
CEO Mike Tyler was absent from the meeting as heated deliberation and fighting within and between the factions raged in the council chamber, held this week at the Cranbourne Old Shire Offices.
Controversy has surrounded the top job since April when the council decided to invite applications for the position.
Since then, a series of motions and rescission motions have followed, with councillors late last month starting to interview recruitment consultants to help oversee the selection process.
However, at the last council meeting a fortnight ago, the council did a back flip, resolving to abandon the process to publicly advertise for the position, and start negotiations to reappoint Mr Tyler, who has been CEO for more than 12 years.
The move came after some councillors changed their vote citing a breach of confidentiality after the name of the recruitment consultant company was leaked to certain media outlets.
On Tuesday, furious councillors attempted unsuccessfully to reverse the decision to reappoint Mr Tyler.
Councillor Paul Richardson asked that the council write to the Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne to set up a meeting with him, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) and interested councillors to discuss the appointment of the CEO position.
Council resolved to write to the minister only after and if a briefing of councillors to determine the council’s position on the issue was successful.
Councillor Rob Wilson asked that the council readvertise the CEO position nationally but the motion was lost.
Then Cr Bradford asked that an investigator be appointed to investigate the City of Casey and the actions of its councillors and senior council staff regarding the process of the appointment of CEO, which councillors also voted against.
The council instead decided to investigate the breach of confidentiality in regards to the leak to the media.
Councillor Janet Halsall said she felt she could no longer support the recruitment process for the CEO position because of the breach.
“I was forced to change my mind when originally I was totally committed to the reappointing process of the CEO,” she said.
However, Cr Bradford suggested the breach was being used as an excuse for the supposed change of heart.
“If Mike Tyler is the be all and end all of CEOs then he shouldn’t have a problem getting re-elected,” he said.
Councillor Mick Morland said the council still needed to have a briefing to determine its position on the issue.
“I don’t want to come to this situation in three years from now, nor I’m sure do the officers or the CEO,” he said.
“Let’s sit down and discuss this as a group working together because we are not working together at the moment.”
Cr Wilson said he was disappointed with the whole process.
“The only thing we (as councillors) can do with the staff is hire or fire the CEO,” he said.
“We have no say in the appointment of staff but we do have this one right.
“I’m sick of all these secret agendas. That’s what is being portrayed to locals.
“Why are we so scared to put up the job? What have we got to hide? It’s time this council makes a decision on this issue once and for all.”