The question of whether Andrew Newton will have his contract renewed, or whether the position will be advertised, will be answered shortly. If the position is to be advertised, then Councillors must decide in October.
Newton has presided over a traumatic period in Glen Eira’s history. He has been the common denominator in 3 Municipal Investigations, (and we learn that there is another one in progress). Numerous incidents have also revealed how this council remains divided and how little trust or goodwill, exists between administration and councillors. When we look over the history of Newton’s reign, these have been the defining characteristics with each group of different councillors. He is obviously an individual who incites either loyalty or condemnation. In our view, this history does not augur well for a municipality that requires strong leadership and commitment from all.
The past year has seen countless ‘stuff ups’ in a whole variety of areas. GESAC allocations, and then the fiasco of having to increase car parking space; next there’s the whole issue of the C60 and centre of the racecourse; various ‘clerical errors’ have even been admitted and to top it off claims of harassment and bullying against Penhalluriack. None of these events show an administration functioning well and on top of its game. Nor does it reveal an administration that is working in unison with its entire group of councillors.
In our view, to reappoint Newton is to short change the Glen Eira community. Surely it is no coincidence that since his arrival this council has been embroiled in continual governance issues including one sacking. How much more does the community have to endure? It is time that new blood and an entirely new vision was brought in to manage Glen Eira. It’s also time that a new culture that acknowledges the importance of accountability, transparency and openness was created and fully implemented. These principles have been the casualties in the past decade.
Pilling has already gone on record that the position should be advertised. We can only hope that other councillors follow suit. The slate must be wiped clean and a new administration brought in that embraces diversity of views, accepts challenges, and accords the community the respect it deserves.
Glen Eira Debates 
September 7, 2011 at 6:29 PM
12 years is already too long. He should have been booted out in 2005 and then again two years ago.
September 7, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Lets hope Newtons days are numbered, his anti community stance, his anti environment stance, his support of lack-luster staff has pushed the envelope as a competent CEO far beyond reason.
I welcome some fresh air, if Newton goes, next should be PB, now that a future worth waiting for.
September 7, 2011 at 8:20 PM
If Newton is given another two years then this council can look forward to more division and disharmony. He has successfully maintained his position via divide and conquer amongst councillors and growing a bureaucracy that is overpaid and reliant on him to keep their jobs. It’s a culture that belongs to the cold war rather than an open society and sadly the public is always viewed as the enemy. I agree entirely with Glennie – Glen Eira deserves heaps better.
September 7, 2011 at 8:42 PM
You would think from the above that Glen Eira was a basket case. The truth is that Glen Eira Council is one of the most respected Councils in Australia despite the interference of the local Liberals.Any serious Benchmarking since Glen Eira’s inception simply shows just how well this City is run.
September 7, 2011 at 9:22 PM
Let’s face it. If you had confidence and trust in your CEO you wouldn’t have given him only 2 years last time. His time is up but he’ll try every trick in the book to get another appointment. Anyone with a bit of pride would simply pack his bags and know when he’s not wanted.
September 7, 2011 at 10:42 PM
I have mixed feelings about this. Andrew has been respectful to me, even helpful on one occasion. But there are aspects of the administration, around its ethics, behaviour, and decision-making that I find unacceptable. Andrew is responsible for all of that, as LGA makes clear. Organisations need to grow (in a learning sense) and adapt, yet Glen Eira appears to be mired in the practices of the past Millenium. Want to look at a planning application digitally??? The culture needs to change, so the question is whether Andrew can transform the organisation to respond to the new challenges, and if he can, then why hasn’t it been done already.
September 8, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Newton is the bureaucrat that Yes Minister could have been modelled on. As the gatekeeper to all important information he doles this out in dribs and drabs to his favourite few. It’s manipulation of the highest order. The Whelan report tells us exactly how this is done. Staff aren’t allowed to talk to councillors and if councillors approach staff for information then they’re to report immediately to Burke, Akehurst and the other directors. In a normal organisation this might be fair and ethical. In Glen Eira its turned into a regime that is akin to 007 – spies everywhere. The latest Wolf report tells us that things have only got worse. Councillors email each other not on council email addresses but privately since they know damn well they’re continually being spied on.Legal? You betcha, but oh so reprehensible.
September 7, 2011 at 11:01 PM
It’s undeniable that CEOs set the tone and culture of an organisation. Under Newton the culture has become one of “us and them”. The overriding philosophy has been to keep the citizenry at bay, councillors bogged down with trivia, and the really important stuff left to the hired help. He has created the illusion of a successful organisation that is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The reality is far different and when the true costs of GESAC become known then this Humpty Dumpty will have well and truly departed leaving the mess for others to clean up.
September 8, 2011 at 12:47 AM
Let’s put all the good and bad aside over the last thirteen years, but, the fact is that we as ratepayers have paid him for his many contracts so far at far higher wages than if he had been appointed as a permanent employee. He would have earnt about twenty five per-cent less each year if a permanent employee. It seems unjust to me that in his time our rates are escalating because of too much unecessary building particularly in parks and we the ratepayers are left to foot the bill when our limited earnings are stretched to meet council payments and our earnings are in effect probably equal to the amount this gentleman has had the benefit collecting from us in petty cash apart from his temporary type tenure salary and a car which has lasted too long now. Another appointment would bring his time to a full career like time just so close to twenty years it would be a disaster.
WE MUST TEST THE MARKET , ADVERTISE NOW, AND SEE IF THIS MAN IS REALLY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY APPLY.
September 8, 2011 at 9:30 AM
Casey does not seem to have too many problems in deciding that it’s time for a new CEO – (from the Leader)
17 Aug 11 @ 01:10pm by Michael Randall
CASEY Council has begun the process of appointing its next chief executive officer.
The council went behind closed doors last night to discuss a motion tabled by Mayor Shar Balmes entitled ‘CEO reappointment’.
Councillors remained tight-lipped about the outcome of the motion today, but Cr Balmes said it began the process for finding the council’s next chief executive.
“Obviously our current chief executive’s contract is coming to an end and we have to look at the whole situation and this was the time I felt the process needed to be started,” Cr Balmes told the Leader this afternoon.
“It’s a similar process to what happens at every council.’’
Cr Balmes said current chief executive Mike Tyler’s contract would end early next year.
She said an announcement on the next chief executive was “months down the track’’.
“People will be notified as soon as anything is ready to be made public,’’ Cr Balmes said.
Cr Kevin Bradford’s move to have the notice of motion discussed in open council was defeated.
He argued the discussion would not centre on financial implications and the community had a right to hear debate about its next head bureaucrat.
Cr Sam Aziz felt the process should remain confidential until a decision had been made.
AND FROM THE 24TH August,
Council has again started its behind-closed-doors process of appointing its next chief executive officer.
The council is considering a motion tabled by Mayor Shar Balmes titled “CEO reappointment”.
Councillors remained tight-lipped about the outcome of the discussions last week, but several were concerned the process was being hidden.
Cr Bev Hastie said a decision such as the reappointment of the CEO should be made in open council.
“Ratepayers have the right to know if due process is occurring,” Cr Hastie said.
Cr Bob Halsall said contractual matters should be dealt with in closed council.
“Council makes numerous decisions, which are of interest to the public, in closed council because of privacy or other issues,” Cr Halsall said.
Cr Balmes said that her motion began the process of finding the council’s next CEO.
“Obviously our current CEO’s contract is ending and we have to look at the whole situation and this was the time I felt the process needed to be started,” Cr Balmes said.
“It’s a similar process to what happens at every council.”
CEO Mike Tyler’s contract will end early next year.
“People will be notified as soon as anything is ready to be made public,” Cr Balmes said.
Cr Kevin Bradford said Mr Tyler had done a good job in his 16 years as CEO, but felt his role should be market-tested to ensure the council had the best person.
September 8, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Rates up, costs up and services on a downard spiral. That’s Glen Eira under Newton. Only winners are lawyers, architects, concreters, and developers.
September 8, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Newton and Burke are well past their use by date. Get rid of them now. We’re going nowhere fast with these two operatchiks at the helm. Next should be the gang. Longevity is the enemy of progress and innovation.
September 9, 2011 at 5:57 PM
One thing that councillors can count on. If they support any extention of the current CEO’s contract their chances of being re-elected will be greatly reduced.
September 9, 2011 at 7:51 PM
More than that, try non-existant. This blogsite is the talk of Glen Eira – I overheard two people talking about it at the butcher shop in Carnegie and even the butcher said he read it. If Newtons and Burkes contracts are extended, all Councillors won’t be there next election – guaranteed. The long term audit committee members, Gibbs and McLean should also be removed for governance sake. Then let’s see how the gang of five (Lipshutz, Hyams, Esakoff, Tang, Pilling) perform free of Newtons gang- they should at least be given that chance.