Search for CEO on again
THE Gold Coast City Council’s $1.7bn budget will be delivered without a chief executive as councillors determine how to fill the vacancy after the shock resignation of David Edwards.
Councillors went behind closed doors at the Evandale Chambers on Wednesday at a special meeting to discuss the chief executive’s position after being told a week ago that Mr Edwards will not continue for health reasons.
Mayor Tom
Tate later emerged to reveal a “super majority decision” meant chief operating officer Joe McCabe would remain as acting chief executive until after the 2021-22 budget was delivered in mid-June.
Councillors had agreed to go to market for a new chief executive. A final decision is now expected in September.
“This is a fresh approach. Anyone can apply,’’ Cr Tate said.
“Final nominations considered in the last application can reapply. It may be that they only need to put in an expression-of-interest given they have previously applied but we will leave that with the recruitment company to determine.
“I expect the process will take several months and as such, we will continue with Mr McCabe as acting CEO for this period.’’
Mr Edwards was just three weeks into his appointment as the city’s top bureaucrat, beating 80 applicants including the council’s then long-serving boss Dale Dickson.
Mr Dickson was chief executive for 18 years heading up an administration team which each year frames the budget papers. The budget will be delivered on June 23.
Rather than go to market, councillors could have chosen one of the four other leading candidates, including a city bureaucrat.
The Bulletin understands there had been some uncertainty among council’s “leadership group” which includes Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, planning chair Cameron Caldwell and Robina councillor Hermann Vorster.
A council source told the
Bulletin: “I think there is a view among some of the councillors that some potentially good candidates did not take part in the previous process due to respect for Mr Dickson.
“Now Dale is no longer in the picture.” Councillors are also aware Mr Edwards’ appointment sparked a smear campaign about misconduct allegations forcing him to hire a defamation lawyer.
Mayor Tom Tate has since been in a fight with the Crime and Corruption Commission, calling for chair Alan MacSporran to be stood down after Logan councillors were cleared of fraud.
“We would be looking for someone in a secure job.
“All of this doesn’t paint a good picture,” the source said.