IT has been a “busy time” for Mount Gambier City Council interim chief executive Graeme Maxwell as he completed his final week of the job last Friday.
Mr Maxwell said his time at council has been “nose down and working hard” since he was engaged following the retirement of former CEO Mark McShane, supporting staff and elected members through the budget process.
“It is always a busy time when councils are going through their budget process and is always challenging especially if you come from the outside,” Mr Maxwell said.
“There has been the Community and Recreation Hub development as well as various issues which have come up on the council agenda that often takes several meetings to resolve.”
Working on issues such as a funding agreement for the South East Animal Welfare League and the future of the Blue Lakes Golf Club and the Queen Elizabeth Park Trust, Mr Maxwell said his time at council had been enjoyable.
“City Council has been one of the bigger councils I have worked for with quite a large budget,” he said.
“It was the inevitable that I would be involved in things that I have not been involved in beforehand.”
Mr Maxwell said he enjoyed working alongside new staff and seeing how other organisations operate and function.
“I like to believe I have had great communication and built good relationships with the elected members and staff here at City Council,” he said.
“By large it has been a respectful relationship, as I have worked alongside the elected members during half of their time in office.
“I do think that it takes new elected members a selected period of time to understand the movements of council and their roles as well as understanding engagement strategies with the community, staff, media and each other.”
Believing the first-term Mayor Lynette Martin is “settling in well” and “adjusting to the role” perfectly, Mr Maxwell said the civic leader was doing a terrific job.
“She came into the role with no previous Local Government experience and I think her eyes have opened significantly in regards to the difference between a governing body and a private business,” he said.
“She has adapted quite quickly and is open for discussion and different ideas and is learning quickly about meeting procedures.”
Complimenting the town’s infrastructure, Mr Maxwell said he may regret not seeing the Community and Recreation Hub project through to completion.
“I think it is an advantage to come into an organisation with fresh eyes and yet not stay long enough to get caught up in any petty politics,” Mr Maxwell said.
“Yet there are regrets that you do not get to see certain things all the way through, such as project completion.
“I will say however, that I am very interested in the recreation hub because of my involvement with the one in Victor Harbor.”
Mr Maxwell is looking forward to spending his free time travelling before moving on to his next challenge.
“I do think the council is well placed financially as well as strategically and are able to offer the community an exciting future.”
Council’s new chief executive Andrew Meddle starts on Monday.
