Lawyer sparks council stoush

THE Gold Coast City Council’s need to appoint a new lawyer has sparked a power play between the bureaucracy and councillors.

Council CEO Dale Dickson has written to councillors advising them that a recruitment process was about to start because veteran lawyer David Montgomery would retire in early July.

Mr Dickson made it clear in his email he would play a major role in determining Mr Montgomery’s successor, only for the CEO to be later challenged by planning chair Cameron Caldwell.

The Paradise Point-based councillor is a solicitor and offered Mr Dickson advice on the Local Government Act.

He suggested a section of the legislation regarding a “senior executive employee” provides for Mayor Tom Tate and either a committee chair like himself or Deputy Mayor Donna Gates to be on an interview panel with the CEO.

Mr Dickson wrote to councillors: “Given the importance of this position, I will be directly involved in the recruitment process.

“Please note that the position is not classified as a senior executive employee under the Local Government Act as it reports through to the chief operating officer.”

But Cr Caldwell told the CEO he strongly disagreed.

“Mr CEO. Thanks for your advices, noted. I disagree with your assertion that the position of City solicitor is not a senior executive employee,” he said.

Cr Caldwell copied the relevant section of the Local Government Act and added that both it and Mr Dickson’s comments backed up “the importance of this position”.

In his reply to Cr Caldwell, Mr Dickson wrote: “Thank you. This is a simple issue. The role plainly does not meet the definition as you assert. The position is, and should remain, a manager level role, as is the case with corporate finance, corporate procurement, chief information officer etc.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I intend to meet with a State D-G to persuade him to spend several $million (sic) on the Gold Coast. Wish me luck.”

Council insiders believe Mr Dickson has made the right decision and it was important for the role of City solicitor to be at arm’s length to the political wing of council.

“The City solicitor is a not a senior executive, a senior manager,” the council insider said.

“The City solicitor has to report to (the chief operating officer) Joe McCabe.

“The councillors shouldn’t be appointing this position.

“The City solicitor needs to be a politically independent person.”