Rule change bid falls flat
Another attempt from the Horowhenua mayor to reinstate his preferred deputy has been swiftly thwarted.
Michael Feyen could not even get a motion tabled in the council chamber requesting Local Government New Zealand change its rules on the appointment of deputy mayors.
The role was the focus of a dispute following the 2016 local body elections. Feyen appointed councillor Ross Campbell to the role, but the rest of the council was unhappy the mayor had not consulted them and soon voted Campbell out in favour of Wayne Bishop. Feyen remained adamant his appointment of Campbell was valid, but the law was not on his side.
Feyen asked councillors on Wednesday to support a request to Local Government NZ for a law change allowing mayors to select their deputies.
He had attempted a similar move at a committee meeting in April last year and failed to get support. The item was included on Wednesday’s agenda despite advice from council chief executive David Clapperton that standing orders prevented a failed motion from being tabled again within 12 months.
Councillor Barry Judd said he was unhappy with Feyen’s attempt to defy protocol.
‘‘If you think you have the right to disobey standing orders, why do we sit around this table? You cannot continue with this notice of motion.’’
The mayor argued it was his right to bring up topics for discussion, but eventually withdrew the motion after Clapperton said he could not overrule standing orders.
Feyen also wanted to make a submission to Horizons Regional Council to make the burning of all plastic in Horowhenua illegal.
However, the burning of rubber, PVC, plastic, agricultural waste and oil painted timber is already illegal. The submission was altered to instead encourage the enforcement of the law.