Second petition calling for Parry's resignation launched in Gore as council explains why he's staying on as interim CEO
Monday, 16 October 2023
Gore district acting mayor Keith Hovell says the appointment of Stephen Parry as interim chief executive was a business decision, just as a petition is launched calling for Parry’s immediate resignation.
Parry tendered his resignation early last month and was due to finish working at the council at the end of October, but the council last week voted nine to three to offer him the role while it looks for a new chief executive.
Parry agreed to stay after deputy chief executive Rex Capil, the likely candidate for interim chief executive, resigned last Monday to take up a new role at the Invercargill City Council.
Hovell, who is acting mayor while Ben Bell is on leave, said the unexpected resignation of Capil meant councillors had to move decisively to ‘’reassure staff and the community there was an experienced, steady set of hands at the helm’’.
The council had a legal and moral responsibility to ensure it continues to operate effectively and efficiently, he said.
“The (Mr Parry’s) appointment was a business decision, nothing more, nothing less.
“We had to ensure continuity and stability as we’ve got a couple of significant workstreams to get over the line – namely the 2024-34 Long Term Plan and the Proposed District Plan.
“We are a small council and do not have the resources to fill, at short notice, the significant gaps that the departure of the chief executive and deputy chief executive would leave.”
The intermediary appointed earlier this year to work between Parry and mayor Ben Bell would continue in that role.
Hovell said it was important to understand that the appointment of an interim chief executive was an employment matter and as such, it was confidential between the council and Parry.
The terms and conditions of Parry’s temporary role have not yet been agreed, he said.
But the appointment of Parry as interim chief executive has lead to the formation of a new group, which is circulating a petition requesting Parry’s immediate removal.
The Gore District Citizen Action Group is urging concerned residents to sign the petition, spokesperson Hayden McIntyre said in a press release.
“We are not just angry, we are furious” McIntyre said.
“Let’s send a message to councillors how disappointed we are in them, clearly, they are not listening.”
McIntyre could not be contacted for further comment.
Another spokesperson said the Gore District Citizen Action Group is an informal group of local citizens, including both urban and rural ratepayers, who are ‘’sick of the current state of affairs at the council’’.
No fees or dues are required to be a member, they said.
The petition says that “In accordance with section 17 of Gore District Council’s standing orders, we, the undersigned request that Gore District Council decline to appoint Stephen Francis Parry as interim chief executive of Gore District Council, and rescind, revoke or replace these decisions made at the council meeting on 10 October 2023 proposed by councillor Bronwyn Reid”.
It says the rationale behind the petition is that the motion doesn’t reflect community feeling, confidence of ratepayers is lacking as demonstrated at the protest held in May, and that Parry has made clear via public media statements his unwillingness to work with elected members, particularly Mayor Ben Bell.
“We, as a community, do not wish an extended experience of unrest,’’ it says.
The council have been approached for comment about the petition, but said it would be inappropriate for it to comment at this stage.
The petition will be the second calling for Parry’s removal. In June, the council was presented with a petition with 5000 signatures calling for his resignation, which it threw out.
Parry has been in the headlines this year amid claims of bullying former council staff members, and has been embroiled in controversy around the breakdown of his working relationship with mayor Ben Bell.