ChCh mayor 'threatened to quit'
PAUL GORMAN
QUIT THREAT: Christchurch city council chief executive Tony Marryatt, left, and city Mayor Bob Parker.
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Bob Parker told Christchurch City councillors he would consider resigning as mayor if Tony Marryatt was not reappointed as council boss, sources say.
At a behind-closed-doors meeting of the chief executive's reappointment subcommittee last week, Parker said unless Marryatt remained, he would rethink his future, it was claimed.
At a public-excluded session of the full council recently, Parker also astounded some councillors by asking each one if they supported Marryatt, the sources said.
Parker's recent comment that Marryatt was "one of the most outstanding chief executives that I have ever worked with" had been called "very unwise" by an employment lawyer.
The lawyer said that could lead to a legal challenge from unsuccessful applicants.
The city council decided unanimously last month to advertise the chief executive job for a five-year term from next May, and voted 10-4 in favour of including that Marryatt was reapplying for the job in the advertisement.
Parker would yesterday neither confirm nor deny his comments. "Both of those were [public] excluded meetings. With issues around employment, obviously that is terribly sensitive.
"We have a process that we don't comment on anything that is said in those meetings. There's a principle around that. But some people, it seems, don't follow that.
"I have no intention of resigning. I love my job. I have signed up for a three-year term with the community."
The appointment process is also at the centre of a letter from Christchurch business leaders to Parker and councillors, in what the business group said might appear to be "an exceptional intervention".
The letter from the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Business Leaders Group was sent in modified form yesterday after the original was leaked to the mayor's office on Monday night.
Signed by Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder, for the business leaders, and chamber chief executive Peter Townsend, the letter said the council chief executive was "critical" to the post-quake future of Christchurch and the role would be "broader than required in the past and at an exceptional level".
"The relationship with business leaders in particular must be with us as partner investors in the future of our city, not just as another group of ratepayers. We are sure as councillors you will agree with us on this.
"We respectfully request that you, as elected representatives of the people of Christchurch, take the time to review the CEO appointment process very carefully."
Emails leaked to The Press show Parker was angry about the letter when he received the original copy and asked the authors not to send it.
On Tuesday afternoon, Elder said in an email: "Not surprisingly, our letter was leaked last night to Bob Parker. By the time I woke this morning, I had six or seven missed calls from him.
"Bob and I spoke for about an hour. I think it was, in the end, as good a discussion as could be expected. Bob expressed strong concerns about our letter and the damage it would do assuming it was leaked to the media. He said it would only do damage by undermining their process, which he said was completely as it should be and in accordance with the Local Government Act.
"I explained that this letter was perhaps the mildest of the many views that had been expressed and if we did not send this letter we might anticipate two things happening – first, a headline something like `Mayor silences business group', which we both agreed would be in no-one's interest, and second, he and councillors would be likely to receive a range of much stronger and less measured or constructive correspondence and messages, either directly or through the media."
An email from chamber president Peter Davie, the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch chief executive, the same day said: "I had a very heated call from the mayor this morning."
Parker said yesterday his annoyance had eased when he realised the business groups and he had the same aim.
"We're looking for a good process and the best outcome for the city."
>> Read the text of the letter here.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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I am relieved that this whole Council CEO appointment debacle is being exposed and highlighted - I was embarrassed to read that Mayor Bob had even "threatened to quit" if his buddy was not reappointed? how infantile is that? But more to the point why on earth would Mayor Bob expose himself like that? Is it actually true? Marryatt has had quite a colourful career and is known to "bully and control" - I find it highly suspect that other community "leaders" would feel the obligation to come out in support of him - why would they do that? How would you feel if you had applied for the role with that kind of backyard manipulation going on? Come on fellas you have been caught out - open up the process and make it totally transparent - use an independant recruiter and make the appointment on merit and capabilities - involve others to whom this role will be critical, Roger Sutton for instance - if Marryatt applies and stacks up against the other candidates do be it - but if not he is gone. I believe that Ngaire Button is also shouting her support for Marryatt she should be on the block also... This job is pivital to Christchurch's rebuild - the council must work in synergy with CERA, EQC and the government there is no place for heroics or self serving campaigns - work together nicely boys!
Shows where sideshow Bob loyalties are! Marryatt was an absolute law unto himself here in Hamilton where he ruled for far too long. I see that Parker gave him an $80k payrise last October & then tries to justify it by his "there's noone like Tony" dribble. Hamilton is now saddled with the highest debt per head in NZ! And for what . . a ghastly V8 race and a bunch of over specced events centres. He will be a pain in Roger Sutton's & CERA's butt over anything he doesn't agree with or more importanly can't CONTROL
Hey whoever you are @#92, thanks, but I'm pretty sure that my folks aren't white and woolly! Also, grass isn't my thing.
Would you please enlighten this ignoramous then- who else was a viable contender? As far as I'm aware, Parker got 70,193 votes, Anderton 53,604. The next largest share was Nathan Ryan with 1,884. (Source: http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/DeclarationofResults2010Triennial%20Elections.pdf). Sorry Mate, I'm trying hard to stay away from sarcasm on this one. Of course, sheep don't get sarcasm.
you obviously bought into the media hype that there were only 2 candidates last election like many many others, there were more than 2 candidates but who would have known much about the others with the vast amount of free media coverage Bob got and the inundande ramblings of Jimbo published also.... good to see sheep still reside in CHCH.
Let him quit. He's been a good figurehead through the earthquakes, and I take nothing away from him for it, but no one is irreplaceable and the proper democratic processes must be followed. If Marryatt gets returned to the position after those processes, well and good. If not, it's up to Parker to react as he sees fit.
Steve also #87, Na Mate, the complaints on this page aren't indicative of public opinion across the city. These people don't like Bob Parker or Tony Maryatt no matter what they do, and now that they have a forum to vent their spleens that is what they're doing. But hey, thats freedom of the media. Just a shame that Parker was the best candidate at the last election, compared with that old man who wanted to do the job part time. Wow, I just vented too.
I think sideshow bob thinks he is indespensible, but bad news bobby, your'e not, no-one is!! If you feel so strongly about having Tony as your right hand man/puppet, then stand by your words and resign if hes not elected in a fair and democratic manner.
If a poll of city council staff were taken and everybody was confident their votes were totally confidential, I'm sure 90% or more would vote to get rid of Tony. On the mayor people are mixed but he sure wouldn't be over 50%. This information is from a nephew.
No. 64 I would join you and several others in our street.
No. 87 We are seniors who don't have FaceBook but would like to join it if possible.
#64, I am keen. been thinking of setting up a facebook page for it.
Interesting though that Bob never said it, somehow I do not believe that. With the comments against Bob here, it really shows resentment for him and just how many did not want him as Mayor. Many saw his face on TV after September and 'how well he was being protrayed' and in someway, this was free advertising for his election. Yes, his 20 years in local politics - most of it was with Banks Pen. Any other business, comments like what have been said, your bluff would be taken. Go now Bob - head off to the south of France and take the CEO and your muffin team with you.
Bring back Vicki Buck I say also.
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@Pete Seddon The election results also show that only 50% voted in the local election. Held so soon after the September earthquake. Perhaps those others who didn't vote, where busy wondering if their houses/lives were repairable.