Former Federation Council administrator Mike Eden has no regrets extending general manager Chris Gillard's contract

The council has failed to provide ratepayers with an update of the move to dump Mr Gillard from its most senior paid position, which started at a special meeting last Wednesday.

Mayor Pat Bourke was in Sydney on Friday, but it couldn’t be established whether the visit related to the general manager position.

Local Government NSW senior industrial officer Ross Nassif attended the special meeting last week and is assisting council negotiate the terms of Mr Gillard’s departure.

Mr Eden said he stood by his decision to appoint Mr Gillard.

But he conceded the move wasn’t popular with all members of the local representative committee, made up of former councillors from Corowa and Urana, to assist the administrator during the formative stages of the merger.

“I extended Mr Gillard’s contract at a time when the council was in an important transitional situation,” Mr Eden said.

“Changing the general manager at that time would have cost the council hundreds of thousands of dollars and put the merger process back months

“During my time both as a delegate and administrator I found Mr Gillard to be a hard-working, honest professional who acted only for the best interests of the council even if sometimes that put him in a difficult position personally.

“Leadership in council is not about being popular.

“It is about working hard for the good of the ratepayers.

“Mr Gillard has always acted as a leader and I wish him and his family well.”

Mr Eden also feared Mr Gillard would be poached by another council at the height of merger uncertainty.

Former Urana Shire general manager Adrian Butler was named interim deputy general manager when the merger was proclaimed.

He was later appointed infrastructure and environment director, but quit in May this year.

Mr Butler is presently working at Wagga Council in a temporary senior role.

His replacement at Federation as infrastructure and environment director, Peter Gall, is acting general manager.

It’s unclear how long he will juggle both roles and whether another special meeting is needed to confirm Mr Gillard’s exit.