City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder CEO performance review committee disbanded despite concerns raised by councillor

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder council has disbanded a committee established to review the city chief executive’s performance in favour of it happening at council meetings, despite concerns raised by a new councillor. Councillors were debating appointments to council committees for 2025-27, including a recommendation to disband the CEO performance review, and General and Strategic Purposes committees, at the October 27 meeting. Cr Ric Halse raised a concern with chief executive Andrew Brien remaining in the room during debate. Cr Halse questioned whether it was appropriate for Mr Brien to be sitting in the room during discussion which specifically related to his employment. Mayor Glenn Wilson, as the presiding member, said he was “more than comfortable” with Mr Brien remaining in the room because no decision was being made about him and there was no financial interest. When Cr Halse continued to suggest he did not think it was appropriate, Mr Wilson asked if he would like to move a procedural motion to disagree with the ruling of the presiding member, to which he agreed. The motion was ultimately lost when no seconder was secured. Speaking against the officer’s recommendation, Cr Halse flagged he had his “training wheels” on and welcomed any direction or advice in terms of procedural matters. “I just find it perplexing that in August of 2022 we’ve passed a resolution to create a subcommittee for the performance of the CEO, or to assess the performance of the CEO and we’re now disbanding that committee,” he said. A point of clarification was then raised by Cr Kirsty Dellar, who sought to clarify a review would still take place, just not through a committee. Mr Wilson said the review would take place through a full council meeting, based on the number of councillors around the table, and previous discussions amongst councillors. Cr Halse had also raised concerns with the transparency of the committee nomination process, stating he was not aware nominations were open. Mr Wilson clarified nominations were sought at the earlier agenda briefing meeting. The motion to disband both committees and appoint various councillors to committees such as the Audit, Risk and Improvement, and Goldfields Voluntary Regional Organisation of Councils committees were passed 8-1, with only Cr Halse voting against it.