Colac Otway Shire Council says its chief executive recruitment saga is “finished” after receiving a “right of reply” in State Parliament.
But questions still remain over the role councillors played in chief Rob Small’s appointment.
The council has told the state’s Legislative Council that allegations about its recruitment process to hire council Mr Small are “impossible”.
Member for Western Victoria John Vogels spoke in parliament in June 2009 to raise rumours the council had a “sham” process to appoint Mr Small.
He alleged a group of councillors approached Mr Small before the council advertised the position, encouraged him to apply for the job and guaranteed him the position.
Legislative Council president Robert Smith read out a statement from the council on Thursday responding to Mr Vogels’ allegations.
The statement said at least four councillors would have needed to be involved for Mr Vogels’ accusation to be true.
The council argues that only one person who was a councillor at the time former CEO Tracey Slatter resigned in October 2008 was still a councillor when the council appointed Mr Small.
“Even if such assurances were given by the then councillors, and there is no evidence of this, six of the seven councillors were not in office when Mr Rob Small was selected,” the council’s statement said.
“Therefore, the course of events outlined by Mr Vogels is impossible.”
The council’s response presumes the alleged job offer occurred before council elections in November 2008.
But Mr Vogels’ allegations were that the offer occurred before the council hired a recruitment consultant in February 2009 to help appoint a CEO, more than two months after the election.
The council has declined to comment further on the matter and considered the issue “finished”.
But the “right of reply” defends Mr Small, the recruitment process and consultants McArthur Management Services.
“It should be noted that Rob Small has continuously owned property in Colac Otway shire since 2004,” the statement said.
“Given his previous experience as CEO of Colac Otway Shire and his high standing in the community it is quite understandable that some residents may have encouraged him to apply for the position.
“We understand that such encouragement did occur.”
The statement says the council had a thorough recruitment process and that McArthur Management Services independently chose a shortlist of candidates which included Mr Small before councillors interviewed the top candidates.

Colac Otway CEO Rob Small