Council appoints acting general manager

LISMORE City Council has appointed Eber Butron as acting general manager as it moves to recruit a full-time replacement over the next 12 months.

Mr Butron takes over from Jon Gibbons, who stepped down just two years into a five-year contract due to family reasons.

Lismore City mayor Steve Krieg said the decision was unanimous at its ordinary council meeting for April.

“It was a natural progression to appoint Eber as the acting general manager while we go to market to find the next permanent iteration of that role” Cr Krieg said.

“Congratulations to Eber on taking on this challenge and we’ll begin the recruitment process as soon as possible.”

Mr Butron joined the Lismore City Council as the director of partnerships, planning and engagement in 2021 under previous mayor Vanessa Ekins.

He was recently working as the chief corporate and community officer as well as the deputy general manager.

He will now be in the acting general manager position for a maximum of 12 months or until council appoints a full-time replacement. Mr Butron has spent more than 30 years working in local government and has held roles as a manager and director.

Lismore City Council’s previous executive team Eber Butron, Dr Brendan Logan, mayor Steve Krieg, Jon Gibbons, and Kristian Enevoldson. Photo: SUPPLIED

He came to Lismore after a posting with Townsville City Council, where he also held the role of acting chief executive.

He has worked in Sydney, Adelaide, the Whitsundays, the Pilbara region and the South West Coast of Western Australia.

“In terms of my career goals, I was attracted by the professional challenge of coming to Lismore and taking on a directorship with the council, and from a lifestyle perspective I enjoy living in the Northern Rivers having previously worked at Tweed and Richmond Valley councils,” Mr Butron said.

Jon Gibbons, John Walker (interim) Michael Donnelly, Shelley Oldham and Scott Turner (interim) have all held the general manager role since 2018.

Gary Murphy had the longest stint, finishing in 2018 after seven years in the role.

He resigned to take on the chief executive position at the Central Coast Council.

Butron formally starts as acting general on Monday, May 5.