Neil Reilly has been elected as Mayor, a role he will hold until September 2023.  A secret ballot was held to decide between him and Councillor Kathy Rice of the Kiama Greens, with Councillor Mark Croxford abstaining from the vote.

In a surprising development, first time Councillor Imogen Draisma of Kiama Labor was then elected Deputy Mayor over long time Councillor Warren Steel.

“There is pride in representing such a diverse group - diversity of gender, diversity of age and diversity of ideas,” said Mayor Reilly on taking the chair.

“I think the future of Kiama will find great strength in that diversity.”

Councillor Rice said, “It must be a disappointment to the community that after receiving 27 per cent of your vote that I have been denied the opportunity to become mayor.

“Your vote for Greens was a record for Kiama, and the largest vote received by any team. We were only eight votes short of having three councillors.

The new Council rejected a proposal to move Public Access to the same day as the General Meetings and other timing changes, voting to keep the status quo after receiving submissions from a number of community groups and having concerns about lack of time to consider viewpoints expressed.

Councillors continue to have dinner with senior staff after the Meetings, but will now pay for their own alcohol.

“I know things are tight, but are they that tight?” Councillor Warren Steel commented.

The Meeting also decided that should a casual vacancy occur within the next 18 months, the position will be filled by a countback from the recent election; and endorsed an expanded induction and professional development program for councillors.

There will be another mayoral term for the final year to the election in Sept 2024.