TWEED Mayor Barry Longland said the Tweed remained the `jewel in the crown’ of NSW local government and he expected the appointment of a new general manager to be highly competitive.
Cr Longland, whose decision to terminate the contract of former GM David Keenan was last week vindicated by a division of Local Government review, said steps were underway to appoint a recruitment firm to replace Mr Keenan.
As per recommendations of the review, Cr Longland will also provide a full briefing to all councillors at a specially-convened meeting early next week after some councillors argued they were not fully aware ofthe circumstances leading up to the termination.
Mr Keenan, whose surprise termination late March upset businesses and residents culminating in a mass rally at Murwillumbah, will receive up to 38 weeks’ salary in keeping with his contract.
Cr Longland said he did not expect aspiring replacements to be put off by the saga.
“In terms of general manager positions in NSW, (the Tweed) would have to be considered to be one of the jewels in the crown,” Cr Longland said.
“It is a beautiful place, it is a good-sized council – it is one of the largest regional councils in NSW – so it presents the sort of requisite challenges that someone who has a career in local government would be seeking.
“`I definitely think it would be highly sought after. I would be very surprised if we don’t get a very large field of applicants.”
The mayor said he expected the process would attract more than the 40-plus applicants received last year when Mr Keenan was appointed.
Cr Longland said he would be surprised if there were no internal applicants for the role.
Technology and corporate services director Troy Green is currently acting in the role of general manager until an appointment is finalised, with the process not expected to be completed until September.
Mr Keenan did not respond to requests for comment.
