Logan starts looking for new CEO after bitter court case ends

Three years after it sacked its previous CEO, triggering a bitter industrial relations case and courtroom battle, Logan City Council is advertising for a new chief executive.

Logan City Council is advertising for a new chief executive, three years after it sacked its previous CEO, triggering a bitter industrial relations case and courtroom battle.

The council has employed an in-house team of four councillors who will be joined by an independent panel member to vet candidates to replace the previous CEO Sharon Kelsey.

Councillors Miriam Stemp and Natalie Willcocks were appointed to the assessing panel along with mayor Darren Power and deputy mayor Jon Raven.

Ms Kelsey was dismissed by a council vote in February 2018 and the position has been vacant ever since.

Acting chief executive Silvio Trinca has taken on the post which could not be filled while Ms Kelsey challenged her dismissal in the Queensland Industrial Relations Court.

That case was dismissed in April allowing the council to move on and appoint a new chief executive.

It is still unknown whether Mr Trinca, who has been with the council for more than 20 years, will apply for the role.

During last year’s election campaign, successful mayoral candidate Darren Power said he would reassess Mr Trinca’s tenure if he won office and became mayor.

Mr Trinca can only be removed as acting CEO after a decision of the full council.

In a series of questions, councillors elected in 2020 were asked if they supported Mr Trinca staying on in that post but none of the 13 councillors responded.

Former Logan Administrator Tamara O’Shea introduced the rules for appointing a CEO on March 4, last year.

Those rules included appointing an external recruiter “experienced in local government” to assist with the recruitment process.

Logan director of organisational services Robert Strachan will also identify “suitable qualified independent” contenders to sit on the recruitment panel.

The recruitment panel will present a report to the council naming the preferred applicants.

It is unknown when the appointment will be finalised.

Previous CEOs including Chris Rose and John Oberhardt would also be eligible to apply.

TIMELINE:

Dec 21, 2015: CEO Chris Rose offered a one-year contract instead of the usual three to four when his contract comes up for renewal

Mar 19, 2016: Luke Smith elected as Logan’s new mayor

Apr 6, 2016: Longstanding CEO Chris Rose resigns after a closed-door meeting with newly elected Logan Mayor Luke Smith and 10 years in the role

Apr 7, 2016: Deputy chief executive officer John Oberhardt steps into the position.

Jul 18, 2016: New Logan CEO Andrew Milner announced

Dec 2016: CEO Andrew Milner visits Germany on a five-day investment luring mission.

Feb 10, 2017: CEO Andrew Milner, who had held executive positions with mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP, resigns, seven months after taking up the post.

Feb 14 2017: Deputy CEO John Oberhardt, who has been with council for 34 years and was acting CEO after last year’s March election, tenders his resignation.

Feb 14, 2017: Todd Rohl, who is CEO at Invest Logan and has been with council since 2012, steps in as council’s acting CEO.

Jun 2, 2017: Ms Kelsey appointed as Logan’s first female CEO

Feb 7, 2018: Ms Kelsey sacked and Silvio Trinca appointed as acting CEO