Adverts for top council job

“The decision to advertise a key Council position doesn’t necessarily mean there’s going to be any changes,” says Waitaki District Mayor, Alex Familton.

The Waitaki District Council’s Executive Committee has decided to advertise the Chief Executive’s position as the current CEO, Michael Ross, is nearing the end of his fixed-term five-year contract.

The Executive Committee, which consists of Mayor Familton, Deputy Mayor Gary Kircher, Councillor Pam Spite and Councillor Struan Munro explained to Councillors at today’s meeting that advertisements of the kind which will appear are a legally essential part of the employment process for local government Chief Executives.

“Local Government is in a unique position”, says Mayor Familton. “Parliament has passed laws for Councils that don’t apply to private sector and other employers.”

The Mayor says that Councils like Waitaki are legally obliged to offer Chief Executives nothing longer than fixed-term, five-year contracts. “The law is very clear on that” he says, “Councils have to advertise the job at the end of that time, even if they wish to reappoint an incumbent”.

Mayor Familton says the only other option is to negotiate an unadvertised, two year extension to the current contract. “We think it’s better to opt for certainty and resolve this key position for the next five years.”

The Executive Committee, appointed to deal with Chief Executive employment matters, will oversee the wording and placement of the CEO advertisements.