By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council is again searching for someone to fill the city’s top job, after acting chief executive Kelvin Spiller announced he would depart the council at the end of the month.
Mr Spiller was appointed as acting chief executive on November 23 – three days after former chief executive Simon Overland announced he was taking indefinite leave from the council, citing concerns about his health and safety.
The council sacked Mr Overland on December 10. He was the third chief executive to be shown the door at Whittlesea since April 2016.
The council and mayor Emilia Lisa Sterjova issued separate statements announcing Mr Spiller’s departure.
A statement from the council stated Mr Spiller had advised he would finish in his role on February 28 due to “personal and other business commitments from March”.
In her statement, Cr Sterjova said Mr Spiller had been “highly effective” in keeping the organisation focused on delivering services to the community since his appointment.
Cr Sterjova said the council would appoint an acting chief executive “soon”.
Cr Lawrie Cox said Mr Spiller’s decision to leave the council was indicative of the “chaos” at the council.
“He is effectively the fourth CEO [to go],” he said.
Cr Cox questioned why Mr Spiller didn’t mention his other commitments when he was appointed.
He has called for the council to either reinstate Mr Overland or look internally for Mr Spiller’s replacement, as has been the case in the past.
Cr Cox attempted to raise a notice of motion at last week’s council meeting calling for Mr Overland to be reinstated by was told the council could not reinstate him.
It comes as Mr Spiller revealed the council has spent $93,000 on external lawyers and public relations consultants since Mr Overland’s sacking.
Mr Spiller told last week’s council meeting he had received three accounts totalling $93,000, of which $24,000 was attributable to communications agency, The Civic Group.
Cr Cox said he opposed money being spent on external lawyers and public relations firms when the council had solicitors on retainer and a communications department.
