Cr Friend: Livingstone Shire loses ninth CEO, acting CEO in 11 years

A Central Qld council CEO has announced his resignation during a night-time meeting following a short nine months at the helm, leaving councillors asking ‘why?’.

New Livingstone Shire Council chief executive officer Terry Dodds.

Livingstone Shire Council CEO Terry Dodds resigned at Tuesday’s July 15 council meeting, saying it was “time to move on”.

Mr Dodds was only appointed in October last year.

He told council he had enjoyed his time here and was proud of the achievements including implanting an accountabilities framework for staff.

“I’m sure when I come back up here in years to come I’ll find a 12-storey hotel here and find a really good connection between Tanby and Rocky roads and another 5000 houses, maybe even a bit more,” he said about the work being done to prepare the region for strong growth.

“I’m glad those wheels are in motion. Thanks for having me.”

Mayor Adam Belot said Mr Dodds was highly respected and it was with “a heavy heart” that they had received his resignation.

“It’s quite a shock to us all,” he said.

“It’s a tough day.”

Cr Friend said she was personally “devastated” to see the loss of another CEO in such a short space of time making it nine in 11 years, including acting CEOs.

Cr Andrea Friend.

“How is it not understood that the stability of any organisation is the basis for which it operates?” she asked.

“Why so many CEOs within this time? Hopefully we need to ask ourselves why and ask ourselves as the board of directors, where is my responsibility?

“I believe this decision by the CEO is made with great regret and a tremendous amount of consideration.

“However, this is the right decision for the CEO as he has said.”

She said Mr Dodds had led organisational restructure which was adopted and ratified under the CEO’s delegations and under the local government act.

“This restructure started only last week July 7. This CEO has engaged with staff and had a plan to improve the culture,” Cr Friend said.

“There is actual evidence of leadership whereby the CEO has taken all staff on the journey of a positive organisational change.

“He has been completely transparent in his communication with staff and councillors through meetings, phone calls and emails.”

She said Mr Dodds was implementing necessary change for the betterment of this organisation, even though “perhaps some may not have been happy with this honesty and forthright nature”.

“All chief executive officers need respect, trust and integrity to carry out their extensive role without these aspects of decency, their role becomes negligible,” Cr Friend said.

“The reputation for Livingstone, in my personal opinion, is now extreme, but I want to go back and say that Terry Dodds has proven the ability to inspire and motivate employees in the short time he’s been here.

“I know that there are currently, and very shortly, will be staff that are devastated and those that will now find out and might say, ‘oh, no, not again’.

“I am personally devastated with many mixed emotions for this organisation and for the whole community who rely on this council’s ability to run smoothly and not have continual disruption.

“I wish you well, and I know that you will excel within your next tenure wherever that may be. It’s your gain, sir, and Livingstone’s loss.”

Other councillors thanked Mr Dodds for his hard work and leadership.

Cr Glenda Mather said Mr Dodds had been outstanding and they had hoped he “was the bloke” to provide long-term stability and guidance.

Cr Glenda Mather.

“We went through (a previous) era where staff were told not to talk to councillors,” she said.

“This isn’t a big shire but it has a big heart and when you tell your people not to talk to your local representatives something sours and that stayed with them for a very long time.

“They feared they might be (sacked) for talking to a councillor because there might be a secret that gets out.

“That’s the atmosphere I saw for many years, so when you turned up we thought that’s the bloke we want.

“We’re sad to lose you because we know what your capabilities are.”