The Shire Council informed Mr Richards last October that it would endorse the appointment of consultants to deal with the issue.

One councillor said the Department urged the Council to consult with WALGA over a possible severance package.

Carefully-worded minutes from its October 30 meeting said the council was “concerned at the staff turnover rate”.

There had been 17 resignations from the Shire’s office staff in the seven months since Mr Richards’ appointment.

He had initially been appointed on a three-year contract in April 2008.

Albany City Council appointed Mr Richards to the City’s top job last November after what it called an exhaustive and above-board interview process.

Mr Richards’ appointment was the recommendation of recruitment agency, Beilby.

Albany Mayor Milton Evans, four councillors and staff were part of the selection process to replace former CEO Andrew Hammond who left Albany to become CEO of the City of Rockingham.

They chose Mr Richards from six candidates organised by a employment consultant after interviews in Perth.

He has since settled into Albany life with his wife, Sarah, and two sons, Rhys (6) and Max (4) and considers life to be good.

“We’re really happy here,” he said.

“I think Albany has got the best of everything.

“And yes, there are going to be ongoing changes as the city grows.”

ALBANY WEEKENDER: IT has been suggested you have spent more time away from Albany attending one conference after another at the ratepayer’s expense. One has it you have been to 16 such conferences?

PAUL RICHARDS: Next week is WALGA’s (WA Local Government Association) Local Government Week and it will be attended by Mayor Evans and Works and Services executive director Kevin Ketterer. The reason I am not going is driven by costs. Kevin is attending with the Mayor as he is the only one of the executive team who has not attended a WALGA conference. Since I have been here, I have been to one conference since I took over. It was an environment conference specifically linked to one of my five Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The Eco Forum Conference was in Sydney in April. We have no specific policy on climate change impact. So, as a KPI, this was of specific interest and I booked into climate change sessions. That one trip by me has been the catalyst for a meaningful plan to be presented to Council. I think that’s value for money. I have a folder full of invitations that I could have attended, but I decided it wasn’t good value for money to attend any of these, especially in my first six months. There have been more pressing needs, especially the retirement of debt.

AW: The City’s credit card was alleged to be given a run at a fancy restaurant, with a huge bill resulting?

PR: This was used once to pay for a substantial amount of meals following a local government meeting with members of six other local governments neighbouring Albany. I was accompanied by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor at a dinner with 14 people. The City paid the bill for logistical reasons. The bill was split equally and all the monies have been recovered after invoices went out. This was not self-indulgent or excessive.

AW: Are there any senior staff members working on a fly-in, fly-out basis?

PR: Nobody works FIFO for the City.

AW: What is the staff attrition rate since you took over?

PR: The loss of staff is an ongoing issue for all businesses. But I am really pleased to say the staff attrition rate has been cut to less than a third since I took over. It was going up every year for the past four years. The world’s financial situation has probably helped people to remain in their jobs.”

AW: You were criticised at Council’s July meeting of some possible involvement with the company that installed the new sound system for Council Chambers. What is the situation?

PR: I voluntarily referred myself to the CCC after that was made with a full review of the circumstances. I have no links whatsoever with the company or individuals involved. It was the Mayor who instigated the change. This followed continuing community criticism of the sound system in the chamber. My only involvement was to sign off on the account.

The insinuation of corruption is something about which I am thinking of taking action. Staff handled the whole matter.

AW: What about the City’s Buy Local Policy?

PR: The system has not worked. Repairs and additional work has always been with local suppliers, and it was still not working. The basis of the decision was to get in an expert to make it work. Since it has been used (June and July Council meetings), there has not been one complaint.

AW: Legal expenses seem to have shot up with allowances in the 2009/10 Budget for more costs. What is going on?

PR: When you compare the legal expanses now to the Earl Street era, the percentage is only marginally higher. We have now sorted historical matters. Over the past year we have concluded some matter that were five years old. Still, the bill is too high. We have identified the issue, and a tender process has just concluded and we will announce a new contract for numerous other legal matters that have not been reviewed for some years. The announcement of the service provider will hopefully add to the local economy.

AW: There is the ongoing complaint the new entertainment centre will lose money and that the Town Hall will become a white elephant. What is the plan?

PR: A calendar of events for both the entertainment centre and Town Hall is to be created. The new entertainment centre is going to attract bigger events. The Town Hall will be used for smaller events, by being woven into other areas of the arts and public amenities”.

AW: The second runway at Albany Airport has been closed causing problems for small plane pilots. What has happened?

PR: The strip was closed to be sealed and bitumenised. However, it has been closed again after faults developed. This is a technical problem being sorted by the contract company. We are addressing the problem.