Perth Voice Interactive

JOHN GIORGI’S 20-year reign as CEO at Vincent ends this year, with the council voting overwhelmingly not to renew his contract when it falls due December 31.

A confidential vote at last week’s council meeting—the Voice was told it was a crushing seven-to-one result—brought down the shutters on Mr Giorgi’s hopes to stay in the job.

Before the vote—during the part of the meeting that was open to the public and the media—the tension in the air was so thick you could taste it.

‘I can only do so much. I’m working extremely long hours. Tonight you’re doing my contract of employment—I can only take so much.’ John Giorgi

A suggestion by Cr Ros Harley that a working group be formed to deal with council merger issues was met with Mr Giorgi complaining he was being worked to the bone.

“You’re putting so much work and pressure and stress on me at the moment that I’m at absolute capacity,” he told the mayor and councillors.

“With all the issues that have been going on recently I am stressed, and this will put further pressure on me. That’s all I’ll say.”

Mayor John Carey replied: “The amalgamation process is stressful for everyone. We’re all under enormous pressure to deliver for our community and this amalgamation process puts all councils under strain.”

Mr Carey said it was vital the working group be formed so the council could make its best case to the government: “If there’s an alternative, CEO, I’m interested in the alternative.”

Mr Giorgi said the proposal should have been raised with him before the meeting.

“To put this up at council without discussing it today is unreasonable,” he said.

“I can only do so much. I’m working extremely long hours, there are a lot of issues in the organisation that you’re well aware of.

“Tonight you’re doing my contract of employment—I can only take so much.”

Cr John Pintabona was the only elected member to vote to keep the CEO.

He proposed a motion to keep Mr Giorgi until the mergers in June 2015, saying an experienced CEO was needed and Mr Giorgi had been through the Perth city council break-up in 1994.

He pointed out Mr Giorgi had scored a 75 per cent satisfactory rating in his most recent performance report and keeping him until mergers happened would mean stability for ratepayers and staff. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

In the past 10 of his years leading Vincent (he’s done 20 all up) Mr Giorgi has scored nine “satisfactory” ratings and one “exceed[ing]”. His performance bonus has dropped from $15,000 in 2008 to $5000 in 2013.

by DAVID BELL

The Voice says:

THIS newspaper’s relationship with John Giorgi has been on-again off-again over the years and at times it’s been downright hostile.

He played no small role in the council’s decision some years ago under mayor Nick Catania to cease advertising with the Voice (which we believe was punishment for our robust reporting of council affairs).

That said, we wish the CEO well and believe the people of Vincent owe him a debt of gratitude for his service.

Mr Giorgi hails from the old school of council bureaucrats, for the most part taking a back seat to the elected council and following its lead and directions.

He’s a nuts and bolts manager, leaving the “vision thing” to the elected council while he set about implementing its ideas. There should be more of it: Too many CEOs play politician.

Under his administrative leadership over the past 20 years Vincent has thrived. Facilities are popular and well maintained (until recently Beatty Park was the exception, though through little fault of the council’s), the streets are tidy, retailing, cafe culture and local arts are lively and residents are engaged with their community: Vincent is a lovely place to live and work in—not every municipality can boast the same.

Mr Giorgi may not have been responsible for the policies that are responsible for Vincent’s stunning success as a small city, but neither has he stood in the way of their implementation.

He has, to our mind, been a diligent servant of the Vincent council and deserves its thanks.