The stood-down deputy mayor of Napier says she will not be trying to win a vote to regain the role.
By Linda Hall for Local Democracy Reporting
The deputy mayor role is now up for grabs for Napier’s 11 councillors for the third time since Mayor Richard McGrath was elected in October.
McGrath offered an olive branch to councillors upset at his decision-making at a behind-closed-doors meeting of the council on Tuesday.
He will now, instead of deciding himself, allow councillors to vote to appoint the next deputy mayor.
The extraordinary council meeting to elect the deputy will be held at 12.45pm on Tuesday, March 17.
One who has come out publicly against McGrath’s “reckless” leadership is former Deputy Mayor Sally Crown, who McGrath stood down from the role in late February.
She had refused his initial request to resign and instead stated he should undergo leadership training for what she called “ad-hoc” and “chaotic” decision-making.
She was considering a judicial review of the decision, depending on advice she received regarding the potential cost to ratepayers.
Within days of the blow-up, McGrath had appointed newly elected councillor Roger Brownlie as his next deputy.
After the meeting on Tuesday, McGrath issued a statement saying he had listened to concerns some of the councillors had about his recent decisions, including his appointment of Brownlie, who has been in the role less than two weeks.
“I want to acknowledge and apologise for any hurt or harm my decisions may have caused Councillor Crown or Deputy Mayor Brownlie,” McGrath said in the statement.
Crown told Local Democracy Reporting the meeting was a constructive way to foster understanding among elected members.
“It’s not about Roger personally,” she said.
“He is a well-respected colleague. The conversation is about governance and making sure the structure works well for the whole team and the city we serve.
“I’m confident that everyone around the table genuinely wants what is best for Napier and our community.”
She said the decision of who should be deputy mayor should have sound process and appropriate transparency behind it.
“I won’t be making myself available for the role of deputy mayor, given recent events,” Crown said.
She said she was committed to serving in her role as an Ahuriri Ward councillor and in the other positions she has been appointed to.
“Any decision about the Deputy Mayor will be made by a vote of elected members and I support this approach.”
Local Democracy Reporting sought comment from Brownlie on the situation and his plans.
He said he was “unable to comment” at this time.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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