Tonight’s council meeting was Paul Burke’s last – confirming rumours that his tenure of 17 years at Glen Eira is now over. Whether this is a ‘willing departure’ or a forced one is open to speculation of course. However, it is our belief that there was still plenty of time left on his current contract.
We can only hope that Ms McKenzie is slowly but surely putting her stamp on a new, community oriented council that pays much, much more than lip service to the ideals of working with and for residents. Judging by tonight’s performance by the vast majority of councillors, they still have to learn this lesson!
Glen Eira Debates 
June 29, 2016 at 8:53 AM
Burkes Gone? …. Well Hallelujah
If this was his last council meeting, and you say he still has plenty of time on his contact, whats does this mean?
He’s going to serve out his contract as a Parking Officer.
June 29, 2016 at 10:13 AM
Lots and lots of people would reckon this is the best news for yonks.
June 29, 2016 at 10:39 AM
He should hang his head in shame along with councillors and staff who are not serving this municipality. Oh and while at it should refuse to take his pension due to incompetence.
June 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Have to disagree with you on this. Burke was totally competent. He was superb in his role of chief head kicker, keeping the plebs in line and covering for Newton. Commiserations to whatever other council residents may get him now.
June 29, 2016 at 11:57 AM
Cannot agree anymore! From now on GE’s downward journey begins. Paul will not fall.Rumours are that he has already been approached by very top firms.
June 29, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Anon you have entirely missed the gist of my message.
June 29, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Top Firms like – (MODERATORS: rest of sentence deleted)
June 29, 2016 at 11:07 AM
Keeping everything aside, do you believe that Councillors like the gang stepped aside and left the officers do what you allege the officers were/are doing? Who is the employer and who is the employee?
June 29, 2016 at 11:55 AM
fanbloodytastic. Akehurst, Newton, Waite Burke. That leaves Ho Hyams lipshutz Esakoff Magee Pilling Lobo Sounness Delahunty to go.
June 29, 2016 at 3:31 PM
What about the grumpy lady in the library, and the Parks and Gardens bloke that sits in the council 4×4 near my neighbourhood park reading the newspaper, and never gets out to do any work, or anything for that matter.
June 29, 2016 at 4:14 PM
Any resident who has had dealings with Burke will be relieved that he is gone. What replaces him will be the test to see if the culture of this council is really changing or whether it is a case of different jockey and the same horse. Given her very short time in the job it does look like the new ceo is shaking up the organisation.
June 29, 2016 at 9:58 PM
Glen Eira in the past has been one of the best performing Council’s in Victoria. Paul Burke played an enormous role in the performance of the Council and he will be missed. I just hope and pray that the new CEO will take into account staff moral which I hear is at an all time low. Uncertainty has gripped Council staff since Mr Newton resigned and the new CEO arrived. Council appointed the new CEO and they will take responsibility if their appointee fails. Most of the above fools have no idea about management and the importance of staff moral. The most important asset Council has, is it’s staff.
June 29, 2016 at 10:45 PM
All propaganda by the rewriter, the conjoiner of fabrications and half truths tailor made to fool most of the people most of the time, Mckenzie saw through his nonsense and he has gone.
June 30, 2016 at 12:38 PM
Thank you for your tirade ‘watching’. As uninformed as it is. My guess is you are a council employee attempting to cover the ineptitude of that moribund organisation.
The waste of money on projects like Duncan MacKinnon; equipment barely used being replaced; divisions ramping up spending as the end of the financial year beckons to ensure no cut to their next budget allocation; the appalling record on planning; the difficulty in getting minor issues fixed et al are all testaments to a moribund organisation that needs a major renovation.
June 30, 2016 at 3:33 PM
Agree! “watching” is a Council apologist. Nothing more.
June 29, 2016 at 10:13 PM
Do not hold your beeath. As long as the gang is in the Council the CEO will always be controlled. To shake is one thing to break is risk altogether. Time and tide waits no one as some will get drowned.