Emma Pritchard and Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent

Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black has been awarded a 2.5 percent pay rise after Councillors voted on the recommendation to increase her remuneration during one of the most drama filled Council meetings in years.

Police were called to the meeting last Thursday at the Grafton Council Chambers in relation to the first item on the agenda, the General Manager’s Performance Review.

Officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District attended the Chambers during the meeting after members of the public seated in the gallery became verbally abusive towards Ms Black.

The situation escalated following a request by Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy to move the performance review of the GM to a confidential session.

The GM had already exited the Chambers when a member of the public left the gallery and approached the councillors while shouting abusive comments about the GM.

Two other people in the gallery also made abusive remarks towards the GM.

Mayor Ray Smith cautioned the first member of the public who spoke and informed them the police would be called if they did not refrain from shouting.

When the group continued to shout abusive comments, Mayor Smith adjourned the Ordinary Meeting and instructed all councillors to leave the Chambers while police were called.

The group were instructed to leave the Chambers and continued to shout after exiting.

Police arrived around 10 minutes later and issued a move on direction to the group which was complied with.

The Ordinary Meeting resumed shortly afterwards and the Mayoral Minute regarding the GM’s Annual Performance Review was moved to the end of the meeting.

Minutes after Councillors returned from the confidential session where the Annual Performance Review was debated, Council issued the following statement.

At its Ordinary Council Meeting held on February 20, Council resolved to grant a 2.5 percent increase in the General Manager’s total remuneration package.

This decision was based on the outcome of a positive performance review conducted by a panel consisting of Mayor Ray Smith, Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy, and Councillors Debrah Novak and Cristie Yager with an independent person from Local Government Solutions.

CVC Mayor Ray Smith said there was consensus from the panel that based on the measurement of the General Manager’s performance, against the pre-determined KPI’s, that an increase in the remuneration package was warranted.

“The General Manager of Clarence Valley Council is responsible for well over 500 staff, control of a budget reaching $200 million, and responsibility for the maintenance and enhancement of community assets valued at over $2.4 billion,” he said.

“Many of the decisions of the General Manager and advice to councillors is based on legislation and existing council policy.

“These are decisions and advice that would come from whoever the General Manager is on the day, they are not Ms Black’s decisions, and it is a shame how a handful of people have personalised this fact and have aimed their criticism at the person rather than the position.”

There is also a need to maintain parity within the local government sector with general managers remuneration packages.

When it comes time to replace the current General Manager, Council will need to be offering a package that will attract suitably qualified and experienced candidates.

“My support of the council decision to increase the general manager’s remuneration package is based on these factors,” Mayor Smith said.

Data obtained from the NSW Office of Local Government shows between July 2023 and June 2024, Ms Black was paid $363,866. 

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 26 February 2025.