By Michael Sinclair-Jones
A NEW Shire CEO for Toodyay is expected to be chosen by the middle of this month.
Councillors had planned to hold face-to-face interviews with shortlisted applicants in the first week of this month but switched to video conferencing under new emergency restrictions to combat the Covid-19 virus.
The council last month appointed Corporate Services Manager Chileya Luangala as acting shire CEO while her boss, Stan Scott (right), is on extended sick leave.
Mr Scott took three weeks’ sick leave at short notice just hours before the council’s February meeting, extended it for another four weeks last month and is not due back at work until Monday April 20.
His temporary 12-month contract expires on July 22 after he failed last year to convince the council to re-employ him for a further three to five years.
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The council is currently awaiting the outcome of a year-long State Government ‘authorised inquiry’ into the shire during the seven years Mr Scott has been CEO.
The department said last month that the investigators’ report is still being examined by the State Solicitors Office before being referred to Local Government Minister David Templeman.
The new shire CEO will be expected to manage any recommendations arising from the outcome of the inquiry.
The job was advertised at between $160,000 and $250,000.
Shire President Bill Manning has sold his Hoddy Well house to move to Tasmania but was forced last month to delay his April 25 departure due to new travel restrictions.
“I still plan to resign from the council after we appoint a new shire CEO,” he said.
A shire recommendation last month moved by former shire president Brian Rayner not to hold an election to replace Cr Manning lapsed when there was no seconder.
When asked later why the council should operate for another 18 months with only eight members and give a new president two votes to break 4-4 ties, Cr Rayner said it would save the $22,000 cost of a new election.
