Former mayors weigh in on Warrnambool City Council turmoil

Mr Daffy's comments came after councillors sacked chief executive Peter Schneider on Monday night.

Mr Daffy, who served as a councillor for 25 years in three separate stints, said it was unfortunate Mr Schneider had been fired.

"Mr Schneider has only been there a short while and you don't solve problems overnight," he said.

"I don't know the man, I've never met him, I know all the current councillors and I'm extremely disappointed with what has occurred.

"I would have thought the current lot of councillors were adults and they need to act like it instead of acting like children."

Former Mayor Jacinta Ermacora said councillors were the city's leaders and in the best position to identify the type of leadership needed.

"The appointment of the CEO and his or her performance is the single most important responsibility the councillor team has," she said.

"It is definitely extraordinary to end a contract before its conclusion and no doubt councillors will have taken their decision with much consideration and even anguish.

"As a former councillor and mayor I know the role is not all about snipping ribbons and playing games with the media. A councillor must also take the tough decisions always with an eye on the best interests of the City of Warrnambool as a whole."

Former mayor David Atkinson said he didn't believe such a step had ever been taken before in Warrnambool or the south-west.

"It's a major step in any municipality. It's the key person that runs the council and the municipality. To sack him is just unusual," he said.

He said while councillors had the power to sack a CEO, there had to be a reason.

"The council has every right to sack a CEO if they believe that's necessary, but in fairness to the community they should tell us why," he said.

With council elections just around the corner, Mr Atkinson said he feared the "shenanigans" would deter good people from running.

"There are too many good people out in the community that would make excellent councillors," he said.

"We have the unfortunate habit of turning on councillors because they don't vote the way we think they should," he said.

Former Mayor Glenys Phillpot said despite difficult times at the council she was confident staff would continue to deliver services to the community.

"I along with most other people in Warrnambool regret the turmoil over the last few weeks in the council, particularly in the challenging times that we're all going through at the moment," she said.

"But I'm confident the service delivery is being attended to in its usual quietly but efficient way by the Warrnambool City Council staff. I think it's time to move on and look to the future and take a positive outlook."

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