Federation Councillors unanimously voted to re-appoint current General Manager Adrian Butler on a five-year contract at Tuesday's ordinary meeting of Council.
Council Mayor, Cr Pat Bourke announced the successful re-appointment following a closed session of Council, and stated the reappointment was made in accordance with the requirements of his current contract, that was due to expire in June 2022. The new contract will commence on 1 October 2021.
Council at the July meeting endorsed the General Manager's Performance Review Committee's annual appraisal recommendation, with the performance again being recorded as more than satisfactory. Mr Butler through this process notified Council of his intent to seek renewal of his contract, and noted the requirement under the Local Government Act and the contract, for General Managers to notify Council at least nine months prior to the end of their contract, if they are seeking reappointment to the position.
Mayor Bourke said Council was thankful for the assistance received from NSW Local Government Management Solutions to assist them in the process and congratulated Mr Butler on his reappointment.
"Under Adrian's leadership, there has been an unprecedented level of infrastructure projects delivered, and key strategic planning work completed and some continuing, including a strong focus on stability, delivery, financial sustainability, and building the Federation Council organization post-merger," Mayor Bourke said.
"The merger brought a huge workload onto the new Council, on top of our routine roads, rates and rubbish, as well as our other 41 service provisions. The way that the organisation has been led is a true credit to Adrian, and a testament to the support he and the Council consistently receive by the staff of our organization and the community more broadly."
Mayor Bourke said both Council and the General Manager expected that it would be the new Council that would have made the decision on Mr Butler's reappointment, had the original date of the September Council elections occurred, but now that the Local Government Election has been postponed to December 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a decision was required to be made by the current Council.
"Council took into consideration past contract terms for both the Corowa Shire and Urana Shires respectively, where elected Councillors appointed General Managers on five year terms," he said."
"Council's unanimous vote speaks volumes to the stability and strategic outlook that Mr Butler brings to this organization and the respect he is held in. Council looks forward to working with Mr Butler to continue to positively progress Federation Council and its communities."
General Manager Adrian Butler said he considers it a great honor to again be entrusted with the position of General Manager and thanked Council for their support since he began in the interim role in 2017 and then in commencing the four year contract in June 2018.
"Council and staff are working together diligently with the community to deliver our vast range of services and of course delivering many projects in addition to this," he said. For me to be able to continue to lead the staff of this hardworking and dedicated entity is exciting. My long-term vision for Federation Council remains the same and that is to ensure the community continues to trust and respect the work of the Council, to work with many to deliver on commitments, and to continue to develop and implement strategies that ensure a strong, responsive and sustainable Council business. I believe this will be delivered professionally, efficiently and passionately and the General Manager role is one I am incredibly honored to be entrusted with."
Mr Butler, who is 47, resides in Urana with his wife and four young children. They have lived in the area since early 2013, where Mr Butler held the position of General Manager at Urana Shire Council until the merger of the former Urana and Corowa Shires in May 2016. Mr Butler is originally from the Balranald area, and has an extensive career in Local Government spanning over 24 years.
He commenced his Local Government career as an outdoor staff member at Balranald Shire Council, in 1997, progressing through senior roles at Balranald, Bourke, Lachlan, Urana and Federation Councils over this time. Mr Butler has tertiary qualifications in Environmental Health, Building Surveying, Planning, and has recently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
