Published on 17 September 2020
West Wimmera’s CEO has signed a new two-year contract, following Council’s recent resolution to make this offer to him.
“I am pleased to confirm that our CEO Mr David Leahy has accepted Council’s offer of a further two years in the role” said Mayor Bruce Meyer.
“Mr Leahy’s current contract expires on 31 January 2021, and the new two-year contract commences on 1 February 2021”.
Council considered the option of offering a new contract to Mr Leahy during the Confidential Council Meeting on 19 August 2020.
Employment of a Local Government CEO is still governed by the Local Government Act 1989. It states a further contract can be offered to an existing CEO in the six months leading up to their current contract’s expiry date, provided it is accepted and signed prior to the commencement of the Election Caretaker Period. These arrangements also meant Council was not required to advertise the role externally, provided that Mr Leahy’s offered remuneration was made public.
From 1 July 2021, the employment and remuneration of Local Government CEOs will be governed by the new Local Government Act 2020. The new Council will then have six months to prepare and adopt a new CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy, meaning the latest date for adoption will be the December 2021 Council Meeting.
“Providing Mr Leahy with a further two-year contract will provide stability and continuity for the newly elected Council in November 2020, allowing them to focus on important work such as the development of the new Council Plan” said Mayor Meyer.