Central Coast Council Administrator Ian Reynolds’ expenses revealed
CENTRAL Coast Council Administrator Ian Reynolds was with council for just over 13 months. You will be shocked by the expenses he racked up.
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THE NSW Government-appointed administrator of the Central Coast pocketed a salary of more than $350,000 during his 13½ month tenure at the helm of the merged megacouncil, and racked up $65,101 in additional “costs”.
The figures were revealed in the council’s 2016-17 Annual Report, which was tabled at Monday night’s meeting of council.
As the Express Advocate went to press, a spokeswoman could only elaborate on these costs by saying they were “mainly for accommodation costs and parking fees for meetings”.
Ian Reynolds, a lifelong bureaucrat who lives at Castle Hill, stayed at the world class golf and spa resort Magenta Shores at North Entrance during his working week on the Central Coast.
The Express Advocate revealed in March that ratepayers had been picking up the bill for the consultant Mr Reynolds to stay at Magenta, where villas range in price from $220 to $1800 a night.
At the time, NSW Opposition Central Coast spokesman David Harris said there were not too many Central Coast residents earning $320,000 a year.
“And, it seems obscene that the Government is forcing ratepayers to foot the bill for its appointment at a time when our roads and other infrastructure is in need of funding,” Mr Harris said.
Under the terms of his appointment, the administrator was entitled to “adequate” and “reasonable” accommodation expenses, as well as a fully maintained car before his unelected role ended after the September local government election.
Mr Reynolds’ total salary is the equivalent of four mayoral salaries.
Newly-elected full-time mayor Jane Smith will take home $104,847 per year.
Also revealed among the documents was the salary of former chief executive officer Rob Noble, who was paid $461,017 last calendar year.
Independent councillor Greg Best has also called for a breakdown of Mr Reynolds’ “additional costs” at the council meeting on Monday.
“$65,101 of ratepayers’ money was expended by the administrator,” he said
“I have no idea what the $65,000 was spent on.”
An extraordinary meeting will be held next Thursday night to discuss the first financial statements of the amalgamated council.