CEO FACES CHOP
KNIVES OUT FOR DALE DICKSON
THE Gold Coast City Council’s highly regarded CEO may not have his contract renewed after a shock move to put his position out to market.
Dale Dickson’s reappointment to his $450,000 job plus bonuses had been seen as a fait accompli as the city closes in on the biggest event in its history, the Commonwealth Games.
But he now faces a vote to determine if the council will “test the water” and find a new boss.
Mr Dickson’s future came up for discussion at the end of yesterday’s full council meeting. His contract expires at the end of the year.
Multiple councillors said they were told the CEO’s future would be discussed via a memo from Mayor Tom Tate on Tuesday night.
Asked by Cr Tate in yesterday’s meeting if he had a motion, Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor requested councillors be given more time to properly consider the CEO’s future.
“What I am asking for is for councillors to take some time, like I will, to consider this matter of potential city leadership renewal,” he said.
After the meeting, Cr Taylor
said the council should “test the water” as a new CEO would “get refreshed and get new ideas”. The vote will be held in the next two months.
Mr Dickson, who sits next to the mayor at every council meeting, abruptly left the room during the discussion. He did not reply to a request
for comment. The Bulletin has been told there has been friction between the Mayor and CEO over the speed of reform and natural staff attrition.
The council would approach the Local Government Association of Queensland to handle any expression of interest process.
“The matter is adjourned so everyone can absorb and decide,” Cr Tate said.
Mr Dickson has been the council CEO since 2003 and sits on multiple city boards and committees, including those relating to the Games.
Palm Beach councillor Daphne McDonald said staff
matters should not have been handled in such a public way.
“I think it was quite disgusting what happened,” she said. “I don’t think anyone should be treated like that.”
Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer said he felt Mr Dickson had performed admirably.
I THINK IT WAS QUITE DISGUSTING WHAT HAPPENED. I DON’T THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE THAT
CR DAPHNE MCDONALD