Clarence Valley Council votes to increase GM Laura Black’s pay, four councillors push rescission motion

A decision on a pay rise for the GM of a northern NSW council already earning more than $342,000 annually has proven to be anything but straightforward. Here’s the latest.

Clarence Valley councillor William ‘Bill’ Day spoke out against the GM’s pay rise.

A vote on a pay rise for a general manager already earning $342,696.93 each year has exposed bitter divisions splitting a North Coast council.

During an extraordinary meeting last week, Clarence Valley Council voted on whether general manager (GM) Laura Black should receive a two per cent pay raise.

It is understood council staff attended the meeting to express their support for Ms Black. The pay rise would be about $7200.

Council documents state the GM was assessed against performance management targets and it was concluded after review Ms Black “met all these targets and, in some cases, exceeded expectations”.

Clarence Valley Council’s general manager Laura Black’s performance was reviewed and she was stated to have “exceed expectations”.

Most of the meeting was conducted in a confidential session.

The council narrowly voted to give Ms Black the increase, with five out of nine councillors in favour of the motion, including Mayor Peter Johnstone.

Councillors who voted against the pay rise were Greg Clancy, Ian Tiley, William Day and Deputy Mayor Jeff Smith.

Cr Clancy then handed in a rescission motion signed by himself and the three other councillors who voted in the minority.

Councillor and former mayor Ian Tiley said he had “no idea” whether votes would change by the next meeting, while Cr Day said “bring it on”.

Debate has spilt out online since the vote.

Councillor Karen Toms said she believed the speedy submission of the rescission motion showed councillors made their minds up before the meeting.

She described comments made in the wake of the meeting as “extremely disappointing”.

Cr Toms said councillors “have a responsibility to take action and not just continue to undermine the council they have been elected to serve”.

Councillor Karen Toms said comments sparked by the vote and motion were ”extremely disappointing”.

Cr Day said it was wrong to increase the GM’s pay during “a cost of living crisis”.

He said Ms Black was paid more than state MPs and roughly the same as a deputy premier.

Cr Day spoke of broader issues and said his support for the motion went beyond money.

He raised concerns about some projects the council has borrowed for, as well as a concerns notice from the GM threatening defamation action against a Clarence community group

“It would be a lot easier if some people would listen to reason, but politics is never easy,” Cr Day said.

Mayor Peter Johnstone says the council has been following the rules.

Cr Johnstone said democratic processes have been followed for all projects the council has borrowed for.

He said he legal concerns were a personal matter involving the GM, with no council involvement.

He also addressed claims by Cr Day the council has been conducting “everything behind closed doors” with some councillors “thinking they are operating in a fortress”.

Cr Johnstone cited the Local Government Act and said a meeting may be closed for personal matters concerning individuals other than councillors.

The rescission motion will be debated at the next meeting on February 27.