Groups question council appointment

An alliance of community and environmental groups, Community Council Watch, has questioned Gosford Council's decision to re-appoint general manager Mr Peter Wilson in the run-up to the council elections.

"The effect of the contract is that it will not come up for reconsideration until the end of the next councillors' term and even then the contract will last until the end of June 2013," said alliance secretary Mr Peter Rea.

"Why have councillors jumped the gun and renewed the manager's contract just to the council election rather than choosing to advertise the position to ensure that get the best person for the job'?"

Mr Rea said Community Council Watch was concerned about council's financial and infrastructure management.

He said the association was concerned with: "recent reports on the state of council's investments, highlighting potential interest and capital losses of millions of dollars; a state-wide financial assessment that found Gosford council's existing policies to be financially unsustainable; a coronial inquiry into the collapse of part of the Pacific Highway; the recent failure of Woy Woy Rd and major road maintenance issues along Patonga Dr.

"All of these matters raise the question as to the competency of council and its management," Mr Rea said.

Community Council Watch aims to bring important environmental, social, governance and ethical issues to residents in the Gosford Local Government Area.

Mr Wilson's new contract as general manager will be effective from July 1 next year.

"It appears that the general manager's contract includes the right to ask Councillors, within 12 months of the contract expiring, whether they wish to publicly advertise the position," Mr Rea said.

Press release, 8 Sep 2008 Peter Rea, Community Council Watch