Councillors have noted the satisfactory performance of Clarence Valley Council Acting General Manager Laura Black as reported in her mid-term review.
A panel comprising Mayor Ian Tiley, Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy, Cr Debrah Novak and Cr Karen Toms conducted the review on 2 May 2022.
A Mayoral Minute advising Council of the panel’s determination received unanimous support at the Ordinary Council Meeting at Grafton Council Chambers on 24 May.
Mayor Tiley said he saw no reason the assessment should not be on the public record, despite no obligation to report the outcomes of the mid-term review.
“The councillors were satisfied on the performance of the Acting General Manager,” Mayor Tiley said.
“The panel agreed with the self-assessment provided by the Acting General Manager, and in fact marked her slightly higher than her self-assessment.”
Council also selected Cr Karen Toms and Cr Jeff Smith to join Mayor Tiley and Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy on the four-person recruitment selection panel for the general manager position for Clarence Valley Council. The position is due to be filled by 7 October to replace Ashley Lindsay, who will retire.
Ms Black, who was previously Council’s Director of Corporate and Governance, has been the Acting General Manager since 26 November 2021, when Mr Lindsay took 225 days of long service and annual leave.
“The panel’s primary role will be to conduct first interviews and select the best two or three applicants to make presentations to the full Council,” Mayor Tiley said.
The Guidelines for the Appointment and Oversight of General Managers under Section 23A of the Local Government Act provides that recruitment, using merit selection, should be a competitive process where the applicant who demonstrates that they have the best qualifications and experience relevant to the position is appointed.