At the January 24 meeting Administrator Rik Hart requested that Council prepare a report to provide an overview of his facilities and expenses for transparency to the community.
That report is up on the website, to be tabled at the February 28 meeting.
It includes two appointment letters.
The second appointment letter states that Mr Hart’s appointment as administrator for the Central Coast ended on October 31, 2022.
The first letter of appointment covers the period before the councillors were sacked and the second letter covers the period after that, but states it ends on October 31, 2022.
Mr Hart’s first appointment letter included the word accommodation as part of his package.
The second letter only mentions “reasonable expenses”.
The expenses table shows the administrator’s accommodation bill climbed from $13,200 for the six months to December 2021 to $27,866 for the same period in 2022.
The report states that his 2021 accommodation, described as heavily discounted thanks to Covid-related reduced occupancy and a long term occupancy discount, became unavailable and alternative premises were acquired.
“Such terms were not offered or elsewhere available from July 2022,” the report states.
It explains that: “The unique circumstances of administration warrant access being provided to residential property in the local government area (LGA), so that the Administrator can effectively fulfil his obligations and duties”.
“The Crown Employees (Conditions of Employment) Award (at section 26.12), which is applicable to the Administrator as an appointee of the State Government, includes provision for arrangements when a person is required to work from a temporary work location for greater than 35 days.
“In previous reports to Council, this expense was recorded under ‘Employee Travel’, however has been separated and recorded as ‘Central Coast Residential Accommodation’ to provide clarity to the community,” the report states.
The report also explains that Council pays the salary and expenses of the administrator but because he is not an employee of the Council, the State Government pays the obligatory super contributions.
The report says the timing of Administrator expenses and facilities reports will be changed to align with financial year reporting, in six-month blocks (Q1 & Q2, Q3 & Q4).
The administrator’s expenses come under the Councillors’ Expenses Policy which is currently open for public feedback.
The draft Policy is required to be publicly exhibited prior to Council adopting any revision. Go to the official council “community engagement” website, www.yourvoiceourcoast.com Comments close on March 6.
