CITY HALL BOSS QUITS
KELVIN Spiller has denied the ability of the new Geelong council to decide his fate had influenced his decision to step down as CEO.
While he had a year remaining on his three-year contract, Mr Spiller, pictured, used the first day of the new councillorled era to announce he would finish eight months early.
A CEO review committee — including new Mayor Bruce Harwood, deputy mayor Peter Murrihy and three other coun- cillors — was due to be created shortly
But Mr Spiller told the Geelong Advertiser that the need to install a new long-term CEO before a vital period of work saw him bring forward his exit. “My decision to resign should in no way reflect negatively on the new council,” he said.
Mr Spiller will step down on March 30 next year.
His announcement comes after a heavy workload of reform projects, initiated in the wake of the council’s dismissal, and concerns over ongoing morale issues.
The Geelong Advertiser revealed last month that union members believed the workplace culture and morale within the organisation was at a historic low.
Cr Harwood, who was installed in the top role the previous night, denied he had played any role in Mr Spiller’s exit.
“Kelvin’s resignation is un- expected, but gives us the earliest opportunity to look at options for the position of CEO,” Cr Harwood said.
“The councillors and I will continue to work closely with Kelvin over the coming months as we seek a replacement.”
Relations between Mr Spiller and councillors had suffered when the axe fell on the council in April last year.
Several of the newly-elected councillors had also taken an interest in the case of former finance and strategy director Joanne Moloney, who was moved on after months in the role.
Questions have also been raised about the handling of the finance department, with another employee forced out this month after an external investigation.
But Mr Spiller said the potential threat of being moved on by councillors was not a motivating factor. “Not at all — it hasn’t even been a consideration,” he said. “I feel very positive about the relationship the new council will have with the organisation.”
Mr Spiller said he had re- just five solved to resign about a week ago, but had been considering it for some time.
He said the need for the new CEO to be involved in a heavy period of work, ramping up in the second quarter of 2018, was a decisive factor.
This includes key projects such as the 2018-19 budget and three-year council plan, and vital periods of work on the 30year Our Vision blueprint and the ongoing transformation program.
“The next CEO needs to be here at the start of it, not the end of it,” he said.