Councils that are happy with the performance of their chief executive shouldn’t be forced to readvertise the job every four years.
That’s the view Hume chief Domenic Isola presented in a submission to a state government review of the Local Government Act.
Mr Isola, who also called for the introduction of a framework to prevent senior officers from earning wages approaching their superiors, said requiring councils to ‘‘test the market’’ could waste time and cost ratepayers more money.
‘‘If you have assessments done in a professional way, with guidelines and key performance indicators, if at the end of the term the person in the job has met the requirements and done the things they’ve been asked to do, then why would you go to the expense and hassle of advertising that job?” he asked.
‘‘In this age of councils having to tighten their belts with things like rate capping, why would you do it?’’
Mr Isola, who has been chief executive at Hume since 2007, said the cost of advertising and hiring consultants to appoint a chief executive officer could approach $35,000.
‘‘In the private sector, if the board is satisfied with the performance and direction, then they would not incur costs, time and uncertainty in going through a reappointment process,’’ he said.
‘‘Why should a council?’’
Mr Isola said existing chief executive reviews were independent and detailed.
But Sunbury Residents Association president Bernie O’Farrell said there was nothing wrong about making CEOs fight for their jobs.
‘‘If the job’s going to be readvertised, then they’ve got to perform at their best at all times, and that’s the best result for ratepayers,’’ he said.
