MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has reappointed chief executive officer John Baker for a further four years but is yet to decide on any change to the amount and terms of his $425,000 salary package.
The contract terms will be reviewed and approved by the shire’s Chief Executive Officer Remuneration and Employment Committee before being negotiated by Baker and the mayor, Cr Anthony Marsh.
Baker’s current contract ends in November and the new contract must be finalised and agreed on by 8 November.
Council said Baker’s current package was decided in November 2021, after it had been “advised on industry standards through benchmarking of similar sized and placed councils; and considered the assessment of Mr Baker’s performance over each of the quarters, a previous two-year pay freeze and the CEO’s self-initiated 10 per cent pay cut during 2021”.
Marsh last week said Baker had “shown great leadership”.
“He has overseen a significant restructure of the organisation and the streamlining of the shire’s services to better serve our community,” Marsh said.
“He steered the organisation successfully through the challenges of COVID and was able to respond quickly and effectively to ensure our most vulnerable residents were supported through the pandemic.”
Marsh was “happy we have been able to secure his services as CEO for another four years”.
In the same statement from the shire, Baker said he was “delighted” to be reappointed.
“It’s a privilege to lead such a devoted and talented group of people within the organisation. We have achieved some amazing outcomes for residents and visitors to this magical place but the challenges, if anything, have become greater post-COVID.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 21 June 2022
