The future of Warrnambool City Council chief executive officer Peter Schneider is expected to be discussed by councillors behind closed doors next Monday night.
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The council has advertised a special meeting will be held at 5.45pm to consider a "confidential personnel matter".
"I'm not at liberty to discuss it," Mr Schneider told The Standard on Wednesday.
"There is speculation but I can't comment."
Mayor Tony Herbert issued a statement a short time ago detailing Mr Schneider's "outstanding leadership" during the COVID-19 pandemic and his performance in the city's top job over the past 17 months.
"With all the conjecture at the moment around WCC CEO Peter Schneider... I am choosing to release, as is my prerogative as mayor, the outcome of the CEO's formal reviews," the statement said.
"In summary, all of the resolutions regarding his performance have been passed unanimously by the council at six months and again at 12 months."
He said the 12-month review was completed in March.
"I cannot know the minds of my fellow councillors nor am I able to talk further about the meeting scheduled for Monday night," Cr Herbert said.
"However the CEO has proven that he has responded to the many challenges he has faced, many of an historical nature, and continues to act in the best interest of council and the community moving forward.
"I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding leadership shown by the CEO for his collaborative approach in dealing with the myriad of issues associated with the pandemic."
Councillors are bound by confidentiality and cannot comment on the issue but Cr Herbert said that in line with council process, as mayor, he had the power to release the summary findings.
Cr Sue Cassidy took a swipe at Mr Schneider at this week's meeting for allegedly not being "in touch with the staff" because he had deferred adopting an organisational review, causing staff stress.
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