Ruapehu GM replies

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 315, 28 November 1989, Page 1

Ruapehu GM replies

I am responding to some of the issues raised in your article "Council Man had a Gutsful" in the Ruapehu Bulletin of 21st November 1989. Firstly, addressing the issue of whether John Murrihy (in his capacity as Community Enterprises Director) had a lack of confidence in Craig Ryland I would note that Craig was offered and appointed to the position of Reserves and Services Overseer (South). I would think it self-evi-dent that Mr Murrihy in fact did have confidence in Craig Ryland otherwise the Area Manager (South) and himself would not have made the appointment they did. It is true that some reservations were expressed about Mr Ryland's ability to operate in certain situations but these reservations were not great enough to preclude him from being appointed to the position and the issues

in question were reserved for future performance review. Mr Ryland speaks critically of the cheap housing rentals and cars made available to highly paid members of Management. He is quoted as saying this shows the Management are self-serving rather than serving ratepayers. I find this statement difficult to accept. Mr Ryland is presumably referring to members of the staff of the previous Waimarino District Council and any benefits that they enjoyed were by approval of that Council. To suggest on that basis that the staff concerned were self-serving does not bear examination in the light of day. Comments are made that the Southern Ruapehu District does not have a registered engineer. Firstly, I would like to dispel the idea that there is a Southern Ruapehu District and a Turnpage 2

Ruapehu GM replies

From page 1 Northern Ruapehu District; there is just one Ruapehu District. Operations throughout the District are the responsibility of the Area Managers and Don Sattler is appointed as the Area Manager responsible for the Waimarino and Waiouru Wards. The Area Managers have technical back up from the Technical Services Division. and the Ruapehu District Council employs three rcgistered engineers, the Technical Services Director, a Roading Engineer and a Services Engineer (the latter ap-

pointee being responsible for water, sewerage and stormwater). All these registered engineers are available to serve the needs of the District as a whole and to provide technical oversight and supervision of operations. There is no justification for a suggestion that any part of the District does not have a registered engineer. Registered engineers are part of the base infrastructure provided by District Council headquarters for the benefit of the District as a whole, I find some of Mr Ryland's comments particularly annoying

as he has not worked a single day for the Ruapehu District Council. He was on sick leave for a period prior to his resignation. Having not worked for this District he is no position to criticize its organisation structure or the personnel within it in the way that he does. Perhaps it can be said Mr Ryland owed it to himself to give the new Organisation a go and see how it worked out rather than firing a broadside from a position of ignorance.

Cliff Houston General Manager Ruapehu District Council