Gawler Council to engage consultant to review performance of chief executive Henry Inat
He wrote a report recommending he get a contract extension, pay rise and luxury 4WD. Now a council chief executive is going to have his performance reviewed by an external consultant.
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Gawler Council will engage an external consultant to review the performance of its chief executive after he requested an extension to his contract.
Two councillors walked out of a special council meeting this week which voted to defer making a decision on Henry Inat’s request for his contract to end in 2024, rather than 2021.
The meeting instead decided to refer the request to a consultant, who would review Mr Inat’s performance and provide a written report.
Councils regularly use consultants to interview key external stakeholders, senior management and elected members about their chief executives when determining salary packages.
The consultants report to council committees which monitor the performance of chief executives.
Mr Inat wrote a confidential 21-page report to his council’s chief executive officer performance panel in October recommending he get a five-year contract extension, 1.4 per cent pay rise and private use of a 4WD.
The panel consists of Gawler Mayor Karen Redman and six other elected members — David Hughes, Kelvin Goldstone, Paul Koch, Brian Sambell, Ian Tooley and Jim Vallelonga.
It recommended to full council that Mr Inat receive a 1.4 per cent pay rise backdated to July last year but that a consultant conduct a performance review before any decision was made about extending his contract.
The matter was discussed by the full council behind closed doors on Tuesday last week before Ms Redman adjourned the meeting because it went past 11pm.
Ms Redman then called Monday’s special council meeting, with elected members voting 6-2 to continue the discussion about Mr Inat behind closed doors.
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Mr Inat, who joined the council in 2013, addressed the meeting before absenting himself.
Cr Tooley and Cr Vallelonga then walked out of the meeting before it voted to give Mr Inat the pay rise and engage an external consultant to review his performance.
Councillors also voted to keep Mr Inat’s report confidential, despite it being leaked to The Advertiser.
Ms Redman said elected members had discussed the matter at length before they made their decision to engage a consultant.
“I think it’s right and proper to have an external review and I think it’s a good way forward.”
Local Labor MP and former Gawler mayor Tony Piccolo said it appeared a possible extension of Mr Inat’s contract “is still on table”.
“The decision made by the council on Monday night is unclear on the purpose or intent of the proposed performance review,” he said.
“From the feedback I have received from the community, it is clear an extension to the chief executive’s contract as this time would be completely at odds with community sentiment and expectations.”
Mr Piccolo said Gawler Council should spend more time engaging with the community “and less time behind closed doors”.
“This whole saga has unfortunately done irreparable damage to council’s reputation, and this could have an adverse impact on investment in our town,” he said.
“I am already aware of businesses who will not do business in our town because of the council and this recent fracas is not helping.”
Mr Piccolo said the council’s priorities should be improving services “and helping stimulate the local economy by supporting the creation of new jobs”.