Councillor wants CEO axed
COUNCILLOR Stephen Schwarten says big bucks equal big responsibility.
And he believes Rockhampton Regional Council CEO Evan Pardon doesn't deserve either from council.
After a series of alleged refusals to fix safety problems in Cr Schwarten's division, Cr Schwarten said he had concluded it was time for Mr Pardon to go.
"Last November the full council, on my recommendation, issued an instruction to the CEO to fix a road safety hazard in Peppermint Dve by having an unbroken white line painted around a blind curve in the road," Cr Schwarten said.
"Now, four months later, not one lick of paint has been applied."
But Mr Pardon said it was actually Cr Schwarten who caused the delay.
He said Cr Schwarten requested the works be pushed back after being consulted about residents losing on-street parking.
Mr Pardon said the works would be undertaken in the week after Easter.
But Cr Schwarten said he had heard nothing from Mr Pardon after last November's decision.
"No word, nothing - it just disappeared down a black hole," Cr Schwarten said.
It appears Peppermint Dve in Kawana has left a bad taste in both men's mouths.
"I am disappointed that Cr Schwarten has made these comments publicly without coming to me directly to air his frustrations and to get updates on the particular projects that concern him," Mr Pardon said.
"This program is scheduled to address problems across the entire region and we cannot simply delay or cancel other jobs in order to prioritise works in one particular division.
"I find Cr Schwarten's continued attacks on the hard working staff of our infrastructure department to be unacceptable."
Cr Schwarten said after 21 years as a councillor, he would rate Mr Pardon the worst CEO.
He will move for a motion of no confidence in Mr Pardon if re-elected as the division seven councillor.
Mr Pardon did not wish to respond to the attacks on his performance.
