Council v Horowhenua mayor, again
Horowhenua District Council is facing another battle with its mayor Michael Feyen, understood to be part of a long-running feud between Feyen and officials about the council chambers.
It’s understood Feyen and the council are heading to the Disputes Tribunal on Monday as Feyen seeks reimbursement for reports he commissioned into the council building in Levin, which he thought was an earthquake risk.
His advocate Christine Toms is also understood to be heading for a tribunal showdown with the council. Toms, a supporter of Feyen, has previously assumed the roles of advocate and secretary for him.
Council chief executive David Clapperton said officials had received a ‘‘notice of hearing’’ from two parties under the Disputes Tribunal Act, but said he was unable to comment further.
Neither Feyen nor Toms would comment.
The tribunal settles small claims up to $15,000 or, in exceptional circumstances, $20,000.
It is believed Feyen is aiming to get reimbursement for two building reports he paid for due to his concerns about it being an earthquake risk. He has questioned the building’s safety in the event of an earthquake, despite two other reports determining it was safe.
In March 2017, Feyen said he would be seeking more than $24,000 reimbursement from the council for the reports, carried out by Structural Concepts and Koru VSL, as well as legal fees.
At his first council meeting as mayor, Feyen said he would pay for the reports if necessary.
Stuff has previously reported Toms’ role as Feyen’s advocate had caused a stir with councillors when she sent an email written on behalf of the mayor requesting to see the qualifications of a senior council staffer.
A report released to Stuff about the role of the mayor’s advocate, written in December 2017, said the advocate was not an employee of the council and was not funded by the council.