Communication breakdown
Despite working only a few metres apart, the Horowhenua mayor can only speak to his chief executive with others present.
Relations have broken down to such an extent that mayor Michael Feyen’s communication with Horowhenua District Council chief executive David Clapperton is limited to fortnightly or weekly meetings, and work-related discussion can only happen through a new committee.
On Monday, Feyen revealed the ‘‘chief executive relationship committee’’ was formed at a publicexcluded meeting on April 11.
It is chaired by deputy mayor Wayne Bishop and also includes councillor Victoria Kayesimmons, Feyen and Clapperton.
Clapperton said he discussed incidental issues with Feyen on a one-on-one basis, but formal matters were discussed in the newly formed committee. He declined to discuss the matter further.
Feyen said he had only been in Clapperton’s office a handful of times since his mayoralty win in October 2016.
He said it had never been easy to talk with Clapperton, but eliminating one-on-one meetings made it even more difficult.
‘‘You ask any mayor in the country and they will say it’s vital you can sit down and have a cuppa with the [chief executive]. ‘‘I can’t do that.’’ Feyen has been at odds with councillors and council staff throughout his mayoralty, with controversies including his questioning of the council building’s safety and councillors voting out his choice of deputy mayor, Ross Campbell.
The council has also upset some Horowhenua residents, who say people should be working constructively with the new mayor.
Manawatu District mayor Helen Worboys said she had an open-door policy with her chief executive, Richard Templer.
‘‘He’s just down the corridor and he’s there if I need him.’’
Worboys meets Templer once a week, but talks to him daily.
The Horowhenua council needed to resolve matters, Worboys said.
‘‘I’m not sure if putting a block between the mayor and the chief executive is the right way.’’
Palmerston North City Council chief executive Paddy Clifford said he had set meeting times with mayor Grant Smith twice a week.
They also spoke regularly over text and email on any day of the week.
‘‘We work in a no-surprises, mutual basis. If there’s an issue which is developing, we will communicate.’’
As well as having limited communication with Clapperton, Feyen said he only saw his deputy mayor on Friday mornings as Bishop was ‘‘too busy’’ to commit to more council work.
Feyen tried again last month to have Campbell usurp Bishop as deputy mayor, but there was no support from councillors.
Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule said Horowhenua District Council did not seem to be in a ‘‘great state of major collapse’’.
‘‘While it might appear to be a little bit difficult, there’s still a majority of councillors that can run the council efficiently.’’
Bishop said he worked 15 to 20 hours per week for the council.