Questions for Sykes
As a very concerned rate payer of the newly named Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, I would like to once again ask our new Administrator Stephen Sykes several questions through your paper in the hope that several queries can be answered.
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I recently asked these questions through our local newspaper in the hope of getting some answers for both myself and also the residents of both Gundagai and Cootamundra and surrounding areas.
I hope that Mr Sykes can answer these questions through your newspaper because in the past it has been a complete waste of time asking any questions at public meetings because either the past administrator or interim general manager had no answers or simply stated that they would get back to people with answers which never or very rarely happened.
I wish for these questions to be answered in your paper so that the residents of Gundagai and Cootamundra can see how much of our rate money that we have all paid over many years has been wasted. I was hoping that at least some of the questions could be answered but it is with regret that no response has been given.
I was amazed to read in the first edition of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Community newsletter that Stephen Sykes stated that “his intention is to work with the broader community to ensure that the council elected in September has solid, community led foundations from which to deliver this region a dynamic future”.
Firstly, I must point out to everyone that one of the government’s main arguments for forced council mergers was to save a heap of money over a 10-ear period. My questions are as follows,
- How much was the contract for Mrs Ferguson employment as an administrator?
- Because the administrator Mrs Ferguson left in a somewhat sort of hurry as her contract of employment did not cease till September 2017 how much in total was she paid out for the short term and time that she spent as administrator?
- Because the new administrator has a new contract how much will he be paid to do the rest of Mrs Ferguson’s period of time that was remaining on her contract?
- What is the total extra cost of having the two instead of one administrator?
- How much in total were the wage increases that were given by the past administrator Mrs Ferguson to the Interim General Manager Ken Trethewey and a couple of other representatives from the Cootamundra area before she left her position?
- Because the Interim General Manager Ken Tretheway’s employment was ceased before his term of contract had ceased how much extra was he paid out when his employment was terminated on Friday 2nd June 2017?
As the administrator it would be great if Mr Stephen Sykes could answer all of the above questions in the newspaper as a lot of residents are unable to attend meetings due to ill health, time and travel and they have also found in the past that if they do attend meetings that almost all of their important questions cannot be answered.
Talk about jobs for the boys. I was amazed to read in a recent local Gundagai Independent that a person over the age of 70 has been appointed the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council’s new general manager for a total of 12 months.
At his age people are generally thinking of retirement or going on extended holidays but instead Mr Dwyer has taken a golden amount to work for a further 12 months.
In the paper it reports that the new administrator Stephen Sykes stated that what council needs to achieve over the next 12 months requires “a fresh approach which is best delivered by someone new”.
I fail to see what benefit Mr Allen Dwyer would be to either Cootamundra or Gundagai areas and rate payers other than possibly give advice to people regarding superannuation and pensions.
Talk about a fresh approach and someone new.
I would also like to know if the enormous wage of $273,600 per annum includes all super, annual leave, car allowance and all other entitlements and perks. This amount adds up to $5,261-53 cents per week. Not bad for someone over 70.
My question to Mr Sykes regarding the above is why was the job of a general manager never advertised for in any way, shape or form?
Also, since Mrs Ferguson was to be replaced why her job was never advertised?
