Federation Council vote on general manager Chris Gillard at extraordinary meeting tipped to be 6-3

Knowledge of a snap extraordinary meeting to deal with Mr Gillard’s contract only publicly surfaced late on Tuesday when it was listed on the council website.

But the jungle drums have been beating increasingly louder since elected councillors returned in September his role would eventually be reviewed even though he had a contract in place until 2020.

Cr Gail Law left no one in any doubt where she stood on Mr Gillard at an election candidates forum in Howlong in early September.

Cr David Longley was next to throw his support behind the general manager when he was the first elected even though he was from Howlong and the town was deep into a fight to step plans to have a compost facility built within its tip.

Former Corowa mayor Paul Miegel has always been a staunch ally and could have been counted on for his support.

Cr Miegel was one of the last remaining members of the local representative committee which operated during the period of administration led by Mike Eden.

The motion to kick-start his removal was moved and seconded by two rookie councillors, Andrew Kennedy and deputy mayor Shaun Whitechurch, and support, no doubt, would have come from mayor Pat Bourke, Cr Norm Wales and Cr Bronwyn Thomas.

Cr Fred Longmire would have also backed the move on Mr Gillard given he felt Mr Eden overstepped the mark in extending the general manager’s contract until 2020 and not waiting until councillors returned.

The appointment of the general manager is the only staffing matter councillors have any control over.

Cr Longmire was also upset with the minutes of the final Corowa Shire meeting pre-merger in relation to dealings with Cleanaway about establishing a compost facility on the edge of Howlong.

Mr Gillard joined Corowa Shire after three decades in Victorian local government circles.