Petition calls on Glen Eira CEO to reapply for his own job  

COMMUNITY activists want Glen Eira chief executive Andrew Newton to reapply for his job after his current contract expires. An online petition available for residents to download and circulate is on the Glen Eira Debates website.

Copies in Bentleigh and Carnegie supermarkets have also garnered signatures. The petition states: ‘‘Your petitioners therefore pray and demand that the position of CEO is advertised widely – and your petitioners will ever pray.’’

Glen Eira Residents’ Association president Don Dunstan, a former councillor, said his association supported the petition. He said the main organiser feared legal action and wanted to remain anonymous. ‘‘We think the position should be advertised because that is a chance to get the best person for the job,’’ he said. ‘‘It should be appointed on merit, and if he was the best person for the job, that’s fair enough. The job pays the same as the prime minister, and we don’t reappoint the PM – they are chosen by our elected representatives.’’

Mr Dunstan said the petition ensured councillors knew what the public wanted. He said the past five meetings to discuss the chief executive’s contract had been held in-camera. The mayor and councillors have declined to comment until a final decision has been reached. The sixth committee meeting is scheduled for November 24. It is also expected to be closed to the public.

Mr Dunstan said at each meeting the public were forced outside. ‘‘It’s totally undemocratic and there is nothing we can do about it. The petition shows what people want,” he said.

Rebecca Thistleton

Councils vote for change

COUNCILS are set for a leadership shake-up, as councillors prepare to vote in new mayors for Bayside, Kingston and Glen Eira. Many of the councillors have not publicly stated their positions, but Glen Eira councillor Neil Pilling and Bayside councillor Louise Cooper-shaw have revealed they hope to be elected as mayor or deputy mayor.

Neither Kingston’s mayor, Ron Brownlees, nor Margaret Esakoff from Glen Eira, will stand for another term. Bayside’s Alex del Porto hopes to be re-elected for what would be his fourth term.

Cr Pilling said none of the councillors elected to Glen Eira council in 2008 had served as mayor; a trend he hoped would change. “I am seriously considering standing for the mayoral role. I feel it is time for a fresh, less traditional approach to the position,’’ he said.

Cr Cooper-shaw, currently Bayside’s deputy mayor, said she would accept a role if nominated.

Glen Eira councillors will vote in their new mayor on December 13. Cr Esakoff said traditionally, a new mayor was elected every year. She said 2011 had been a successful one for Glen Eira, with the Packer Park expansion and the popular storytelling festival among her highlights. ‘There are always challenges, but the February flooding and seeing the devastation that some residents suffered was extremely difficult,’’ she said.

Her deputy, Jamie Hyams, said the past year had given him a chance to deputise at official functions and see the new sports and aquatic centre built. He was reluctant to discuss if he would stand for mayor or say who he would vote for before speaking to his colleagues.

Kingston’s election will be held at the November 30 meeting. Mayor Ron Brownlees said he would not stand for another term.

‘‘It’s been a busy, full-on year,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s always more than 40 hours a week and you always end up working seven days.’’ He said he had not decided who to vote for. Bayside’s annual meeting will be held on December 1, marking the end of Alex del Porto’s third term as mayor since his election to the council 14 years ago. Cr del Porto took a year’s unpaid leave from teaching to take on the 2011 role full-time.

Cr del Porto said a main challenge for the council in 2012 would be to attract more state and federal funding, which he said was becoming harder get.

Rebecca Thistleton