Mayor's handling of meetings criticized

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 248, 28 June 1988, Page 3

Mayor's handling of meetings criticized

The chairmanship of Mayor Garrick Workman came under fire at last week's District Council meeting.

Raetihi ward councillor John Compton questioned the way the Mayor controlled debate at meetings of the Waimarino District Council Mayor Workman was on leave of absense from the meeting last week and Deputy Mayor Bruce Thompson chaired the meeting. Councillor Compton told the meeting: "It (his concern) relates basically to our last meeting, to the procedure of debate that's held in this chamber. I consider it deeply undemocratic when rul-

ings are made from the chair without the consensus of the elected assembly of people." "I wish to discuss the matter now with a view that we do adopt the standing orders as laid down, despite the errors or alleged error that may be contained therein, because if we do not have a procedural form of debate we could have meetings going on far beyond the necessary course of time." "It is a contentious point and I think that the paper itself aired a point of view which is

fairly practicable i n consider ation that the dominance of the chair in discussion is not really required," he said in reference to the column "Our View" in the Bulletin , June 8. "It should be a question of guidance of discussion according to democratic patterns and as far as I am concerned one way of insisting on those patterns is to have a formalized adoption of a system of dealing with discussion matters, and if w e haven't got them, what system are we abiding by anyway?" said Cr Compton. "I take your point Cr Compton, you wouldn't prefer to leave it until

the mayor was present?" said Cr Thompson. "I bring it up tonight out of concern from the last meeting rather than have it lost in the course of time, I think it should be noted in the minutes," said Cr Compton. "Or noted for debate at a later date." "I would certainly prefer to wait until the mayor was present," said Cr Thompson. Mr Murrihy said some of the standing orders in question were in conflict with the Official Information Act, but that they could be adopted and where conflict occurred the act would override. "Nevertheless we are

discussing something council may or may not have done. The idea has been brought up by Cr Compton, the Mayor has requested leave of absence. I believe if discussion must carry

on tonight, it must," said Cr Sue. Cr Compton said he raised the adoption of the standing orders for councillors' consideration and for it to be at least noted down on the

order paper for discussion at the next full council meeting. A motion was put forward by Cr Compton to this effect and was passed.