The Courier understands former Melbourne suburban council chief executive officer Frank Dixon will be appointed as the city’s temporary chief at the City of Ballarat’s first council meeting on Wednesday night.

Mr Dixon was most recently chief executive at Maroondah City Council for four years. He has also previously been general manager at Launceston City Council in Tasmania and executive director at Hume City Council in Melbourne.  

Ballarat Councillors were remaining tight-lipped on the identity of new chief with official announcement expected on Wednesday. However, Councillor Vicki Coltman confirmed it was a candidate with years of experience leading councils across Australia. 

It is expected Mr Dixon will lead the council until a permanent chief is appointed in the coming months. The recruitment process has not been without controversy with claims by residents the council has acted illegally.

Ballarat Residents Ratepayers Association chairman John Barnes said the council publicly advertised the position of chief executive without an official council meeting. He said as a requirement by law they must advertise the meeting, even if it is to be held in-camera.

“There is no record of an earlier decision to delegate powers to the mayor, a group of councillors, or a special committee,” he said. “The CEO Performance Review Special Committee does not have the capacity to recruit.  Advisory committees and assemblies of councillors cannot make decisions. The Local Government Act is quite clear about this.” 

Ballarat mayor Des Hudson refuted the claims.

He said the decision to engage the recruitment consult was made by council’s chief financial officer following consultation with councillors.Cr Hudson said the council had acted quickly to ensure minimal disruption to council operations after former chief Anthony Schinck stepped down last year.

City of Ballarat governance specialist Jason Young said the Local Government Act does not require a formal resolution of council to engage a recruitment consultant to advertise the position of an interim or permanent chief. “The only decision that requires a formal resolution of council under the Act is the appointment, not recruitment, of a successful permanent CEO applicant,” he said.