HORSHAM Rural City Council will work with a consultancy group to replace outgoing chief executive Peter Brown.
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Mr Brown announced his resignation this week after seven years in the position.
Horsham Mayor Pam Clarke said Mr Brown had a year left on his contract.
“Peter expressed that he would review it at the end of this year anyway,” she said.
Cr Clarke said council would obtain quotes from consultants to run the recruitment process, and they would be responsible for advertising and short-listing applicants.
“We don’t want to define what we are looking for too much,” she said.
“I feel that you can limit the field if you define too much.
“We want a broad base of people to choose from.
“We interview the candidates and council makes the final selection, but the consults we employ help us right through that process.”
Victorian Local Governance Association chief executive Kathryn Arndt said the Local Government Act required a chief executive’s position to be publicly advertised in a newspaper circulating generally throughout Victoria.
“Many councils opt for a professional recruitment company to handle the recruitment and selection process and recommend a suitable candidate for the council to appoint,” she said.
“The length of the contract is negotiated between the chief executive and the councillors through their appointed recruitment company.
“Most senior executive positions can have up to five-year contract terms.”
Ms Arndt said the councils were permitted to appoint a person as acting chief executive for no longer than a year.
She said the role of the chief executive was critical.
“They are not only responsible for the everyday operations of the council but also support the elected representatives – the mayor and councillors – fulfill their government responsibilities,” she said.
“The chief executive’s performance is required to be reviewed every 12 months by the councillors under the Local Government Act.”