The City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor has confirmed he will cut his current job down to a 16-hour week.
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Since he was elected as mayor by fellow councillors at the end of October, Cr Taylor said has been using annual leave at the Delacombe-based software company where he works to carry out his new responsibilities.
He told The Courier that the board as a business development manager had agreed for him to work a 16-hour week after a meeting on Thursday.
He said that he appreciated the flexibility his employers had demonstrated, and that the new arrangement would start on Monday December 9.
Cr Samantha McIntosh, who was the mayor from three years until Cr Taylor took the position six weeks ago, gave up her job to work full time in the role.
If you want to get something done, you ask a busy person
- Mayor Ben Taylor
Cr Taylor said that working part time would not mean any reduction in his commitment to the job, or has accessibility, and that he would still draw the full mayoral salary.
The council's annual report lists the total remuneration of the mayoral role - which would include superannuation - at $106,972.92.
READ MORE: Who is the new mayor of our city?
With four children, Cr Taylor said he had to be careful to safeguard his future employment as well as carry out his mayoral duties, a role that will only last for 12 months.
He said the hours he currently puts into the role already amount to well in excess of a standard working week, with his duties often starting early in the morning, and extending into the evening and weekends.
"If you want to get something done, you ask a busy person," he said.
Some councillors are known to have misgivings about whether the mayoral job can be balanced with other work.
However, two previous mayors who are still on the council - Crs Des Hudson and Mark Harris - have said the role of mayor could be combined with other responsibilities.
Cr Hudson took long-service leave during his term as mayor from 2015/16, while Cr Harris continued to work as part time as a doctor while he was mayor in 2011/12.
John Burt, the mayor from 2012/13, worked as a principal while he was in the role.
While he was in discussions with his workplace, Cr Taylor told The Courier he would not lose focus on his responsibilities as mayor. "If it's not workable then I would be the first one to put my hand up and say so," he said at the time.
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