CEO coup ‘disrespectful’

Councillor rallies behind off-contract city boss

GOLD Coast City Council boss Dale Dickson can expect support from councillors to extend his contact until at least after the Commonwealth Games.

Several councillors are shocked that a procedural motion which referred to the CEO’s contract was brought forward by Broadbeach-based city councillor Paul Taylor in open council.

The Bulletin yesterday asked all councillors whether they believed the issue, like all staffing matters, should have been discussed in closed session.

Nerang-based councillor Peter Young said: “In my opinion the matter was introduced in open session wrongly and disrespectfully”.

The Bulletin asked councillors whether they thought Mr Dickson was “doing a reasonable job” and were they concerned about a potential change in his position on the eve of the Games.

Cr Young, Cr Donna Gates as acting mayor, and Cr Dawn Crichlow were the only ones to respond to the questions.

“I am not going to answer these questions until I know more about what’s going on,” Cr Crichlow said. “If we are discussing the CEO’s contract it will be in closed session.”

Cr Gates in a statement maintained “there was no debate in open session” and “the matter was simply adjourned”.

“The matter will be discussed at council in coming months and all councillors’ views will be considered.”

Councillors became aware of Mr Dickson’s contract negotiations when they received a memo from Mayor Tom Tate late on Tuesday.

Cr Taylor was asked at the meeting on Wednesday if he had a procedural motion. It was seconded by Cr Gary Baildon.

Cr Taylor said the council should “test the water” and a new CEO would “get refreshed and get new ideas”.

Council insiders suggest Mr Dickson and Mayor Tate have maintained a professional and strong working relationship.

But the relationship between the CEO and at least one senior council staffer has been toxic, as evidenced by the tone of emails between the pair. “They haven’t spoken in two years. There have been aggressive emails,” the council insider said.

The rough-house politics behind the handling of Mr Dickson’s tenure is tipped to win him support even from councillors not close to him.

Mr Dickson is a key board member of the Commonwealth Games organising committee chaired by Peter Beattie.

“In my opinion, any decision to replace the CEO prior to the Commonwealth Games would be particularly unwise and contrary to the city’s interests,” Cr Young said.

Palm Beach-based councillor Daphne McDonald and Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer voiced their support for Mr Dickson after the meeting.