NEWS DESK
Cents a reason to ‘correct’ CEO’s $425,000 package Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has corrected information released about CEO John Baker’s $425,000 salary package. The new figures do not change the total of Mr Baker’s remuneration but correct an “administrative error”. Council’s 14 December meeting was told that his new, increased base salary was $386,363.64, not the $382,500 as stated in an official news release following a council decision that his salary was not confidential. The corrected figures show his superannuation to be $38,636.36, not $42,500 as previously stated. Council agreed to give Mr Baker a rise at its 15 November meeting and ordered a news release on 7 December. “Given that council resolved the apportionment of the total remuneration package, it is appropriate that council resolve to amend,” legal and governance manager Amanda Sapolu said in a report to the 14 December meeting. “In preparing the media release,
an administrative error was discovered in the apportionment of base salary and superannuation.” In a bid to make sure a similar problem does not happen again, councillors vote unanimously “that all matters relating to the chief executive officer employment remuneration and contract be brought back to the council committee of the whole before any report is tabled at an ordinary council meeting”. The 9 December news release advising of Mr Bakers’s salary increase said: “When considering the sum of the remuneration package, council was 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 twoyear pay freeze and the CEO's selfinitiated 10 per cent pay cut during 2021.” The mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said: “Retaining a high performing CEO is essential for ensuring the best outcomes for our community. This decision is a vote of confidence from council in the CEO to lead the shire into 2022 and beyond."
Fairway to help
KATE Freeland stops to discuss the Save Flinders Pier campaign on Boneo Road Rosebud.
Moving plea for pier FLINDERS Community Association has stepped up its Save Flinders Pier campaign over summer and is towing a mobile promotional trailer through holiday destinations along the Mornington Peninsula. The Save Flinders Pier trailer with the iconic weedy seadragon pictured on the side has already attracted public attention in Rosebud, Rye and Red Hill; with Sorrento and Portsea next on the list. Association spokesperson Charles Reis said the intention of the trailer was to raise awareness. He said the group is encouraging holiday-makers from other parts of the peninsula to visit the Flinders pier over summer to assess its condition for themselves. “Parks Victoria is too focused on demolishing the historic pier; while
most people who visit the pier agree that restoration is the best option,” Mr Reis said. “Few people realise that Flinders has the only pier along the entire southern coastline of the Mornington Peninsula, and its historic and commercial contribution to the peninsula needs to be preserved.” The association is campaigning to convince Parks Victoria that the pier, dating back to 1864, is a community and maritime asset that should be restored for future generations of Victorians. The pier is home to a unique species of the weedy seadragon made famous by Sir David Attenborough and attracts divers from around the world. Liz Bell
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JOHN Fisher has not chemotherapy get in the way of a round of golf, especially when it’s to raise money for a cancer-free future. Mr Fisher, who has been diagnosed with two different cancers throughout his life, completed 72 holes of golf last month as part of the Cancer Council’s The Longest Day fundraiser at the Sorrento Golf Club. He and his team raised $70,000, bringing his total fundraising efforts for the Cancer Council to $370,000 since he started playing in The Longest Day in Sorrento five years ago. Mr Fisher, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma nine years ago, completed six months of chemotherapy in November before taking on The Longest Day. He was also diagnosed with melanoma 25 years ago. The Longest Day is an endurance golf marathon designed to test golfers’ skill, strength, and stamina by completing their chosen number of holes from dawn to dusk. “It was probably my toughest year out of the six years I have been a part of The Longest Day because I had just completed six months of chemo. I also have to start chemo again soon, but I rearranged it so I could still play,” Mr Fisher said. Golfers can still take part of The Longest Day during the new year, with fundraising closing on 28 February. Mr Fisher and his team hope to raise $80,000 by the end of January. To support Cancer Council Victoria’s work visit: longestday.org.au/ fundraisers/SorrentoGolfClub
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19 January 2022
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