By Luke Voogt
The new chair of Geelong’s libraries Ron Nelson has declined to detail how he will streamline the organisation he described as a “monolith” of bureaucracy in 2017.
Cr Nelson called for an inquiry into the Geelong Regional Library Corporation last June following its controversial recommendation to close Chilwell, Highton and Barwon Heads libraries.
“There’s a bit of fat at the top there that perhaps we don’t need,” he said at the time.
But Cr Nelson declined to detail possible cost-cutting measures, despite his recent talks with the corporation’s chief Patti Manolis.
“I will certainly be making it run as streamlined as much as I can,” he said.
“I haven’t had much of an opportunity to go through all of the books but certainly I’ve gone through the operating costs of the corporation itself.”
The corporation had structured its costs prior to his appointment, which could prevent him from taking cost-cutting measures for the financial year, he said.
Such measures would likely be confidential in nature, he added.
Cr Nelson said his appointment last week as chair negated the need for an inquiry.
“Now that I’m on the board I can see what needs to be done – the buck stops with me.“
The appointment comes after Cr Nelson in 2017 joined thousands of Geelong residents protesting the closure of the three libraries.The campaign eventually forced Geelong’s State-appointed administrators to reverse the decision.
“I’m passionate about libraries which is why I put up my hand,” Cr Nelson said.
“My job is take make sure all the libraries stay open.”
Cr Nelson said State Government funding for the corporation was decreasing, a trend he would look to reverese.
“I’ll look to be making sure there are new ways of raising revenue and maintaining an efficient and effective service.”
Geelong councillors Stephanie Asher, Jim Mason and Peter Murrihy, Golden Plains Shire councillor Nathan Hansford and Borough of Queenscliffe councillor Ross Ebbels joined Cr Nelson on the board.
According to the GRLC’s 2016-17 annual report, the corporation paid $8,421,733 to 97 full-time-equivalent employees at an average of 86,036.
“Unelected” bureaucrats “higher up” were soaking up “valuable ratepayer money, Cr Nelson suggested in June 2017.
