Hume City Council ratepayers stung almost $20k for CEO Domenic Isola’s farewell party

Hume City ratepayers coughed up almost $20,000 for a lavish farewell party for the council’s CEO, in what’s been described as “disgusting” use of public money.

Hume City Council ratepayers have covered the $18K expense for outgoing CEO Domenic Isola’s farewell party.

Hume City Council slugged ratepayers almost $20,000 to host a farewell party for the outgoing chief executive.

The Herald Sun has obtained the costs of the lavish send-off for Domenic Isola, which occurred at the Broadmeadows Town Hall on April 15, 2021, two months after he resigned.

Mr Isola has since accepted a job with the Municipal Association of Victoria, where he recently served as the acting chief executive and is currently the acting procurement manager.

According to documents obtained under freedom of information by councillor Trevor Dance, the council spent nearly $15,000 alone in catering costs to feed guests.

This included providing guests with grazing tables as well as 300 servings of a set cocktail menu with six canapes.

The council also spent $3658.60 on decorations for the event, including $450 for a florist to set it up.

More than $1000 was spent to hire out a floral tribute that was described as creating a “whimsical design”.

Former Hume City Council chief executive Domenic Isola. Picture: LinkedIn

And a further $320 was used to produce a “lush and whimsical arrangement” of white and blue blooms to “match council branding”.

Council Watch vice president Dean Hurlston slammed the council’s “disgusting” use of ratepayer money.

Mr Hurlston said he would refer the matter to the ombudsman, IBAC and Local Government Minister Melissa Horne for further investigation.

“This is absolutely outrageous,” he said.

“This does nothing to help the local government system with mounting integrity issues.

“We call on the Local Government Minister to make an urgent statement to the sector to ban the misuse of public money for personal celebrations like this.”

Hume City Council ratepayers, many struggling with the cost of living, have been slugged almost $20,000 to cover the former CEO’s send-off. Picture: supplied

Mr Hurlston said the spending saga should force all councils to publish full staff and council expenditures on their websites every quarter.

“There can be no excuse for this kind of spending,” he said.

The Herald Sun understands two federal MPs – Rob Mitchell and Maria Vamvakinou – and three state MPs – minister Ros Spence, Josh Bull and former MP Frank McGuire – were invited to the event.

The decision to host the event was made by previous council administrators – who have since left the organisation, although their departure is not linked to this matter.

Hume City Council chief executive Sheena Frost said about 300 people – including councillors, former councillors, staff, MPs, and community and business leaders attended the event.

“The event was held to acknowledge the departing CEO’s contribution to the Hume City community over a 20-year period,” Ms Frost said. “Mr Isola’s last day with Hume was March 5, 2021 and the event was held in April 2021.

“Mr Isola was not involved in decisions relating to the costs of the event as it occurred some months after he had departed.”

Mr Isola has been asked for comment.

A state government spokeswoman said: “We expect all councils – elected officials and staff – to act appropriately at all times.”

Hume City Council announced Mr Isola’s resignation on February 10, 2021.

In a statement at the time, Mayor Joseph Haweil described Mr Isola as “one of the most highly regarded CEOs in local government”.