Ratepayers are about to buy themselves a new [Byron shire] council general manager. Unfortunately the choice is in the hands of currently elected councillors who have shown little understanding of their own role let alone what to do with a GM.
A number of senior Greens have urged that a comprehensive review of council organisation, governance, procedures and existing problems be conducted by an arms-length expert prior to the selection. This would give councillors some idea of the current situation and GM applicants an idea of what they are taking on.
We were encouraged when the mayor adopted this idea and the brief we provided for an urgency motion for the last council meeting.
So what happened? We don’t know!
It all mysteriously disappeared somewhere between the agenda and the close of play for 2017.
Not a word from Simon who is apparently now spruiking the totally contrary approach of ‘reviewing’ after appointing a new GM. This is a sure recipe for lumbering ourselves with yet another chief executive from ‘GMs R Us’.
Other councillors seem to be going along with this, help!
Tom Tabart, Drysdale, Victoria
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
