Geoff Helisma Three of seven councillors have voted against contracts adopted for the council’s three directors. However, why councillors Peter Ellem, Greg Clancy and Debrah Novak opposed the contracts cannot be disclosed, as the decisions were made in a 20-minute confidential session at the end of last week’s Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting. Councillor Arthur Lysaught left the session, before a vote was taken, to attend a previous appointment; Cr Karen Toms was absent. Laura Black was officially appointed corporate & governance director on a five-year performance-based contract, commencing on January 8, 2018. Current works & civil director Troy Anderson was reappointed for five years, and environment, planning & community director Des Schroder was reappointed for three years. Their new contracts commence on May 27, 2018. At the moment, CVC’s directors are being paid a total remuneration package (TRP) valued at $213,941. Meanwhile, the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Tribunal has resolved to increase directors’ TRPs by 2.5 per cent, effective in May 2018. This decision would have resulted in the directors’ TRPs growing to $219,290; however councillors decided to offer the directors considered for re-appointment a TRP of $215,000, effective from May 27, 2018.