A new general manager for Lithgow City Council will be appointed as soon as possible after two new councillors are found at the byelection on April 8.
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Mayor Stephen Lesslie said agenda number one would be to find a replacement for former general manager Roger Bailey, whose contract was terminated in October.
A replacement couldn’t be appointed until there was a full complement of nine councillors, Mr Lesslie said.
“We would be looking to proceed with that as soon as possible. The general manager is integral to council, they are responsible for so much of the day-to-day running so we have to fill the position quickly,” the mayor said.
The controversial byelection, to find replacements for barred deputy mayor Martin Ticehurst and Geoff Cox, who resigned in January, is anticipated to cost approximately $150,000.
Nominations will open on Monday, February 27, but a number of candidates have already begun to emerge.
Councillor Maree Statham is running a ticket with Darryl Goodwin and Deanna Goodsell, and Jeff Thurlow has begun a campaign as a member of councillor Cassandra Coleman’s team.
It is understood former councillor Col Hunter and Greg Guest, who ran on councillor Ray Thompson’s ticket in 2016, both intend to stand.
Nominations will remain open until 12pm on Monday, March 8, with a ballot draw to be conducted soon after.
Lithgow’s returning officer for the byelection, Jennifer Dash, has begun preparations at the prepolling station, which will be the old Spillets building at 47 Main Street.
Prepolling will begin on March 27 and run between Monday and Friday for two weeks up to the election.
The location was chosen because it was central, with a bus stop nearby, Ms Dash said.
It is hoped counting will be completed and a result available by Thursday, April 13.
Mr Lesslie said he looked forward to working with the new councillors and hoped they would bring a new perspective on issues.
“It will be fantastic to have some fresh eyes to look at the concerns of Lithgow. I think it is healthy that we have a wider choice and some different perspectives," he said.
“I disagree with the opinion that councillors have to agree on everything. I think it’s good if there are individual positions and allows for greater exploration of problems.”