Mayoral Candidate Criticizes Review Process of Chief Executive

The ongoing review of chief executive Alex Parmley by the Waitaki District Council has sparked criticism from mayoral candidate David Wilson. The council conducted the review last week, which is mandated to occur 12 months before the expiration of Parmley’s initial five-year contract. This process, part of the Local Government Act, allows councillors to either extend the contract by two years or open the position for new applications.

Wilson expressed concern over the timing of the review, arguing that any decisions regarding Parmley’s employment should be made by the newly elected council, which will assume office in November. He stated, “It is undemocratic for an old council to deny the new council this decision.” Wilson has called for existing councillors to disclose how they voted or intend to vote regarding the contract extension for Parmley.

He pointed out that while employment matters for general council staff are typically kept private, the chief executive’s role is different. “His salary, $358,547 for the 2023-24 financial year, and the term of his employment contract are public information,” Wilson emphasized, insisting on the necessity for transparency in this matter.

Responses from fellow mayoral candidates have been dismissive of Wilson’s comments. Kelli Williams stated, “It would be entirely inappropriate for any candidate to comment on an employment matter,” suggesting that such “alarmist tactics” are unwarranted at this time. Former deputy mayor Mel Tavendale echoed this sentiment, arguing that mayoral candidates should understand employment law and their responsibilities as employers. “The new council and mayor will have the opportunity to set the direction and manage the performance of the CEO moving forward,” Tavendale noted, adding that only the current council can evaluate how Parmley has met expectations during his tenure.

A spokesperson for the Waitaki District Council confirmed that no additional information regarding the review would be released at this stage. “We are aware of interest in this matter,” the spokesperson stated, clarifying that, due to the nature of the employment process, further comments would not be appropriate. They assured that the council would provide updates to the community once the review process is finalized.

The council’s agenda for the recent review included provisions for public exclusion based on the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. This act allows for public exclusion in cases where disclosure of information could harm individual privacy or impede free and frank discussions among council members and employees.

As the local elections approach in November, the debate over the review of Parmley’s employment highlights the tensions between outgoing and incoming council members. The decisions made now could have lasting implications for the governance of the Waitaki District.