Kimberley CEO's contract terminated
The position of a $170,000-a-year Kimberley council chief executive has been axed after just 12 months in a secret deal without any disclosure of his payout to ratepayers.
Shire of Derby West Kimberley president Elsia Archer said the council and Gary Clark agreed to the early termination of the contract of employment between the parties and said "this is strictly in accordance with the relevant terms of that contract".
Mr Clark had served one year of his five-year contract.
Details of his termination package have been kept under wraps and it is not known whether he has been paid to the end of his agreed term or what contractual penalties the council may face.
Martin Cuthbert will be acting chief executive until locum Gary Martin takes on the role in a caretaker capacity in September.
The council is then expected to embark on a widespread advertising campaign to attract a permanent chief executive.
Ms Archer refused to discuss the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Mr Clark when contacted by the _Broome Advertiser _ last week.
"The termination of the contract is also governed by a confidential deed of settlement and release," she said.
"There will be no further public statements by either of the parties."
The decision was made at a special council meeting a fortnight ago in which the public and media were banned from attending.
"This was not just about me," Ms Archer said.
"It was a whole of council decision - eight councillors, eight nil decision. It was unanimous by the Shire of Derby West Kimberley council."
Mr Clark was appointed as chief executive to the council in August 2012. He was previously the chief executive with the Shire of Brookton.
When he was appointed, Ms Archer said she was delighted with the unanimous decision reached by council.
"Gary has strong management credentials and experience in local government, including in large remote mining and pastoral districts," she said.
At the time, Ms Archer said the council had received 17 applications for the position and Mr Clark was chosen from a strong field.
"The council was pleased to be in a position of making the appointment and looked forward to working with Gary to manage the Shire," she said.
