Bruce Harwood has paid tribute to the City Hall chief who quit the day after he became mayor.
Kelvin Spiller tendered his resignation in November after steering City Hall through the 2016 sacking of council and the reign of state-appointed administrators.
Mr Spiller was appointed chief executive officer on an interim basis after predecessor Gillian Miles quit less than a year into the job and months before council’s sacking in 2016.
He was still in the top job when a new council was elected in October but announced his resignation a year before his contract expired.
Cr Harwood, who was re-elected despite his sacking as a member of the previous council, highlighted Mr Spiller’s numerous council CEO stints while farewelling him from City Hall late last week.
“Kelvin has had a long and distinguished career in local government,” Cr Harwood said.
“Today marks the end of his seventh stint as a council CEO, having worked around Victoria and Australia, under a total of 25 different mayors. It’s fitting, given he spent the early part of his career in his home town of Geelong, working at the former municipalities of South Barwon, Corio, Bannockburn and Newtown, that he eventually returned here.”
Mr Spiller had also served on 30 government, industry and community boards and committees, Cr Harwood noted.
“He’s never been afraid to move out of his comfort zone, to seek out new experiences and opportunities to learn, and that has stood him in good stead throughout his professional journey.
“What has been clear to me through working with and getting to know Kelvin is his passion for local government and for the community. That has always come through during some of the difficult issues we’ve dealt with, and the heavy workloads we’ve carried through those times.
“On behalf of council, I sincerely thank Kelvin for his service to Geelong and wish him well for his future adventures.”
City Hall said Brett Luxford would be acting CEO during the “ongoing” search for a permanent replacement.
