BendigoWeekly ISSUE 747 FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012
www.bendigoweekly.com.au Bendigo’s most-read newspaper
Flying the Aussie flag Taylor Matthews and Jordan Anderson made the most of Australia Day in Eaglehawk yesterday. With flags flying and the summer weather giving the best to the day, it really was the right time to jump for joy.
Story Pages 2 and 3
SHORT TERM Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
By ANTHONY RADFORD
THE City of Greater Bendigo council is considering giving chief executive officer Craig Niemann only an interim contract extension later this year. Mr Niemann was appointed in December, 2007, after the death of John McLean three months earlier. With his contract up in December, shortly after the election, council is considering leaving Mr
Debate over council CEO’s tenure
Niemann’s long-term future on hold and in the hands of the new council. Council will decide in the middle of the year whether to re-appoint Mr Niemann permanently. A move to do otherwise would be seen as controversial, given Mr
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Niemann’s support among council staff and the community and business sectors. However, council is looking at all its options, including re-advertising and leaving the decision up to the new council. Mr Niemann received a pay rise
of up to $10,000 last financial year, bringing his salary to somewhere between $270,000 and $279,999. Epsom Ward councillor Lisa Ruffell said it was good governance to look at options other than reappointment. “If you are going to lock some-
Bec joins our Better Health Club Page 5
one in for four years, it is wrong to do it in an election year,” she said. “We should do an extension of, say, 12 months, and then let the new council decide. “That is how I am thinking.” Cr Ruffell said a new council may have a different opinion on Mr Niemann and his performance.
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