Former CEO questions divides debate

Taupo District Councillors were divided over the topic of the former CEO’s payout at the recent ‘meet the candidates’ evening.

Councillors were asked why they voted to pay the former CEO three months’ salary when he left his contract early.

Councillors Bernhard Chrustowski, Anna Park, Rosie Harvey, John Williamson and Barry Hickling closed ranks and defended the decision while Rosanne Jollands and John Boddy decried it.

Park said all councillors took an ‘‘oath of allegiance’’ which meant they could not speak to items that were held in confidence.

‘‘Out of respect for that I will not offer any information to a serious breach,’’ she said.

‘‘Why are we not talking about our lowest rate increase in years?’’

Harvey is an experienced business operator and said sometimes hard decisions had to be made.

‘‘We made the decision with the information we had in front of us,’’ she said.

‘‘I have no problem with the decision I made.’’

Chrustowski said there was no division about the council meeting heading into confidence and, as such, information should remain behind closed doors.

However, a letter sent from Councillor Zane Cozens to all councillors on April 26 shows there were some concerns from councillors prior to the closed meeting.

Boddy said the decision to offer a payout did not follow council protocol.

‘‘We [councillors] were asked, after the event, to approve the decision,’’ he said.

Jollands confirmed she voted against the motion to approve the payout.

‘‘We should not hide behind closed doors,’’ she said.

Boddy and Jollands found an ally in Christine Rankin.

‘‘I think some of the people around this table have lost sight of the fundamental reality that this is ratepayers’ money,’’ she said.

‘‘They have the right to question any decision the council or the mayor make.’’

Harvey struck back against Rankin.

‘‘With the greatest of respect to you, you have no idea what went on in council chambers,’’ she said.

With the debate starting to spiral, as councillors all wanted to chime in, the moderator called an end to the discussion