Nillumbik Council affords greater powers to CEO amid coronavirus pandemic
A move to afford Nillumbik Council’s CEO with greater powers amid the coronavirus pandemic became heated when councillors claimed the urgent matter of business was “forced” upon them just five minutes before the council meeting.
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Nillumbik chief executive’s instrument of delegation will be increased from $150,000 to $500,000 in a move that will allow the council’s chief greater powers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But the decision sparked heated debate at a recent council meeting, with councillors claiming the urgent matter of business was thrown upon them just five minutes before the gathering.
Cr Peter Clarke said the cause to increase the chief executive’s delegation was “self obvious”.
“The unique circumstances that we find ourselves in is a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and mean we need to have greater powers afforded to the senior management team and in particular the CEO,” he said.
“We don’t want to find ourselves in extreme circumstances where for instance we might not be able to get a coram to do certain things should an absolute worst case occur in the foreseeable future.
“We are preparing for a set of circumstances we don’t know — that's why we’re doing this — we are trying to position ourselves to support our community in the best way that’s required.”
But Cr Peter Perkins said the move was a “retrograde step” and criticised officers for forcing the urgent matter of business upon the council with “no notification”.
“I strenuously oppose this motion — this paperwork was dropped on us just before the meeting, there was no prior notification,” he said.
“This delegation to the CEO was last resolved by this council not less than eight weeks ago on January 28.
“Now all of a sudden this emergency that we need to devolve our responsibilities and hand them over to the CEO — well I wasn’t elected to do that and I refuse to do that.
“Why elect a council when you increase their delegation up to this — might as well just have administrators right now.”
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Cr John Dumaresq echoed the thoughts of Cr Perkins.
“I’m prepared to look at these things in the near future but I don’t think it’s something that should be done with five minutes to look at the project,” he said.
Mayor Karen Egan reassured the council could review a lower delegation figure once the pandemic was over.
The motion was passed 4-3.