Long argument over staff

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 232, 23 February 1988, Page 23

Long argument over staff

Block voting last week with Raetihi agamst Ohakune clearly killed an attempt to recruit a professional district engineer.

The district council steering committee debated the issue for over an hour before voting.

It was clearly a case of Ohakune Borough Council members wantine to hire a new

and qualified engineer while W aim arino County and Raetihi Borough members wanted to give the new job to county engineer Don Sattler. Ohakune's point was

based on a lengthy submission by district manager John Murrihy that the new council could justify having a qualified, professional engineer. It was stressed several times that the issue had nothing to do with personalities. An attempt to keep names out of the press failed when the Ohakune Borough Council, at a meeting of its own the next night, disclosed names. The two Raetihi councils felt it was too soon to hire a new person and argued that Mr Sattler, an unqualified engineer, "should be given a go." Mr Murrihy presented a four-page report examining current engineering arrangements within the three merging councils, describing tasks to be undertaken in future and justifying his recommendation that an engineer be employed and a schedule of duties and conditions be drafted and advertised. The first part of the report covered the existing practice of using two different firms of consulting engineers, Bycroft Petherick Ltd

and Payne Sewell Ltd. Charges for professional staff employed by the two firms ranged from $ 8 5 downwards. One of the firms had commented that the district council ought to be able to offer a permanent position to a professional engineer with consultants being used only for specialist advice or design.

Engineer ing needs

Mr Murrihy presented a long list of engineering needs within the district under the headings o f roading, water and sewerage, subdivisions, building, plant and general. He said engineering must be run on a professional basis to achieve the most costeffective and efficient service possible. "In my opinion this does mean not spending unnecessary additional money," he said. "Nor does it mean not to commission a study or a report because the study may result in a 'do-nothing' conclusion. "Nor does it mean

that the engineer does not have the authority to assess any information for himself and initiate a forward planning study on any relevant area of council's operation." The amalgamation had "turned on its ear" a number of the methods of carrying out council functions and therefore council should take the opportunity to make advances in engineering areas. These were by far the areas in which most of the council's expenditure would take place. "I believe that council should not just make do with what it has and what it is comfortable with, but should look to the future and see the opportunities (not problems) that it is faced with." The engineer, he said, should be in the management team which would meet regularly and coordinate carrying out of council policy and make recommendations to council on future development and activity. Mr Murrihy said he did not think consultants could do this. While hiring an engineer would not negate

the need for input by consultants, this would be infrequent and apply to one-off situations. Commenting on M r Sattler, he said the county engineer's role was extremely necessary to the ongoing functions of council. And while some reorganisation of his duties would be necessary, he felt some of the activities to be undertaken in future were beyond Mr Sattler's expertise.

Practical man

Mr Sattler was obviously a practical man but there was no doubt that there was a need for a theoretical input, tempered by practicality, especially in longterm planning. Mr Sattler also had a full workload and this would be increased by the engineering demands of the two boroughs coming under his supervision. Unless his workload was reduced he would be overworked. The only practical way t o achieve a reduction would be to employ an extra person. Turn to p.24

Long argument over staff

From page 23 Said Mr Murrihy: "Even assuming that no additional employee is required and that the average charge per hour of $51 as suggested by Payne Sewell, the cost of a consultant to council would be such than on completion of 750 hours per annum or 15 hours per week by the consultant and his staff (including typists) would pay the salary of an engineer." Chairman Garrick Workman, Mayor of Raetihi, opened the discussion saying he expected lively debate. He asked councillors not to "hog" the floor. County chairman Con Heinold led the resistance. He felt the council already had a chap capable of doing the job. To hire an outsider was moving too fast. He said there was likely to be a big downturn in Government requirements on local authorities and there would be less roading work in future years. It would be foolhardy to hire an engineer, he said. Mr Sattler was prepared to accept the challenge of the job. Someone else should

be appointed under him. In the absence of Cr John Compton, who joined the meeting later, Cr Tom Punch said Raetihi Borough's view was that their minimal engineering activity and expenditure did not justify the proposed appointment. Roading was going along satisfactorily and professional advice on matters like sewerage was available on a consulting basis. Ohakune Mayor Bill Taylor asked for Mr Sattler's qualifications. Cr Heinold said he had no formal qualifications, but he was far more experienced than many qualified engineers of his own age. Mr Sattler had been responsible for Winstone Afforestation's roading, a subdivision on Auckland's North Shore, tar sealing in New Plymouth, survey work for the Ohakune mountain road and various Army roading and bridge-building projects. "You'd be amazed at his vast experience," Cr Heinold said. "Mr Sattler has built up his credibility with the Ministry of Works and

he has a good working relationship with Payne Sewell." Asked by Cr Taylor in what instances the county would call on consultants, Cr Heinold said bridge design, flood damage and subsidence were examples. Asked by Mr Taylor to comment, Mr Murrihy said he had no reason to doubt Mr Sattler's knowledge in practical areas.

Policy

"My doubts are not about his ability to carry things out but in matters of policy and forward planning," Mr Murrihy said. He had to be careful because he did not want to be derogatory, but he had yet to see any major reports by Mr Sattler. "I have my doubts in that area," he added. After further questions and answers between councillors and Mr Murrihy, Cr Heinold said: "This is a practical man who wants to have a go. Give him a go first. Try it, then employ an engineer if we have to." Asked by Cr Taylor if Mr Sattler was doing anything to improve his qualifications, Cr

Heinold said no, because he had a limited education although he had the necessary motivation and the staff were behind him. Cr Bruce Thompson, an Ohakune Borough Council member, said the borough's concern was to have a qualified or capable man because of the engineering expertise required in the borough. "We spent well over the $100,000 mark on consultancy here and we could employ an engineer out of that," he said. Commenting, Cr Tom Punch said Raetihi Borough had spent only $3000 to December 31 on engineering consultancy. Replied Cr Thompson:"Well, I would be concerned about that." Cr Workman said engineering activity had been low in Raetihi Borough this year as very little roading development had been done. It was a year mainly of maintenance. Cr John Compton said to make haste with a new appointment now could be premature. He was inclined to agree with the county and "see how it goes". Cr Gavin Jones, a

county councillor, said he agreed it would be better to make haste slowly but surely. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future to employ an engineer as the district council saw fit. He believed Government policy would see a "tremendous halt" to council work in engineering services. Cr Jones said he had seen Mr Sattler's work over the last 18 months. It was refreshing to see his attitude and the progress he had made. "We'd be silly not to use this man as our engineer," he said. Cr Thompson said he was concerned that the council would not have an engineer to oversee the subdivision work taking place in Ohakune. It required a proper engineer. Cr Heinold: "He has done a big subdivision on the North Shore." Cr Taylor: "But was he an engineer with a firm in Auckland? That's what concerns me. To be absolutely blunt, he's not an engineer, is he?" Cr Heinold: "The word engineer is so wide. Cr Workman: "The short answer is no."

After further discussion about the depth of Mr Sattler's experience, Cr Heinold said Mr Sattler had authority to sign National Roads Board claims. Cr Doug Bennett, a county councillor, said the district council's purpose was to safeguard employment for all staff. It was premature to put new people in place before operating. The financial climate was not suitable now. The council had yet to do its first set of estimates and there was to be further local government restructuring by October 1989. "Till we know more," he said, "we don't know what our operating levels will be. They may be more or less." Cr Taylor said using that argument the steering committee would not have appointed the district manager. Cr Bennett said Mr Murrihy's appointment was made before restructuring was announced. Asked what the cost of an engineer would be, Mr Murrihy said the salary would be $38,000-42,000 and the package would have

to include a vehicle, superannuation and housing. The county currently had a house available. After further discussion Cr Taylor said it appeared the council would be unable to reach a resolution. Therefore he moved that there be no resolution and that the matter be left for the new district council to consider after April 1. Cr Compton seconded the motion. Cr Workman said he did not think the council needed to be unanimous. A majority decision would be adequate. Staff needed to know where they were. Cr Taylor: "Point of order, Mr Chairman, staff already know where they are," Cr Workman: "I'm going to have to pull you up there, Mayor Taylor, because some of the outside staff do not know where they are." Cr Taylor:"Forgive me, I thought all staff had true job security." The motion was lost on a vote of six to three with Crs Thompson, Punch, Heinold, Summerhays, Jones and Bennett against it and Crs Taylor, Horne and Compton for it.