Hidden away under ‘Public Notices’ we find that there are 2 more scheduled meetings for the ‘Ceo Contractual Arrangements Committee”. Once again residents are told that it is ‘expected’ that the meeting will be closed – ie in secret! And once again there is this miniscule ad hidden away in today’s Age where no-one is likely to find it. Needless to say the legal obligations of one week’s notice have been fulfilled – but the ethical considerations in actually informing the public as to what is going on remains totally substandard.
We have yet to lay eyes on the minutes of the previous meeting and the agenda has mysteriously disappeared from the website!
Now there are another two meetings with the least possible amount of advertising. Most residents would never even bother to look under this link we suspect. So secrecy continues.
Questions abound:
- Is Penhalluriack still excluded? If so, why?
- Why haven’t the minutes been published? Will they be? If not, what does this say about legality of the whole process?
- What are the terms of reference? Again, never published!
Glen Eira Debates 
October 13, 2011 at 7:31 PM
When ya keep wanting to hide things my nose tells me there’s a big rat in the woodwork somewhere. Reckon there are a whole bunch of rats here and the start with the gang.
October 13, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Oh come on Glen Eira. You obviously talk to Frank – and he certainly feeds you information. Haven’t you asked him why he is excluded from the committee?
October 14, 2011 at 9:02 AM
The Local Government Act prescribes confidentiality in certain circumstances. Nothing unlawful going on here.
Employees are entitled to have deliberations regarding their future to be confidential. When we elect councillors we give them that responsibility. If we don’t like what the way they go about things we vote in new ones.
October 14, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Sure nothing illegal about anything perhaps. Only the way stuff is done and the wheeling and dealing. There’s no good reason why there shouldn’t be real announcements and proper notifications and where are the minutes? Now that’s a legal issue for sure. You’re right though – it’s sure time that the place was cleaned out and new councillors were voted in as well as getting a new ceo. You cut off the head and the rest falls into place.
October 14, 2011 at 2:16 PM
I have no problem with negotiations of administrative officers appointments being treated as confidential. However, given the skulldugery that occurred the last time the CEO was re-appointed (threats of legal action etc.), I am extremely concerned that Council is heading down that same path again without considering potential legal ramifications.
At this stage Council should merely be discussing what process is to be adopted to appoint a CEO. Shouldn’t be anything secret or confidential about that.