Waipā councillors appeared to be closer – if not close – to naming a successor for chief executive Garry Dyet this week.
They were to meet at Karāpiro today (Wednesday) – after this edition went to press – to discuss the appointment of a new chief.
Mayor Susan O’Regan and chief executive Garry Dyet at the last meeting held at Karapiro.
Reasons for going behind closed doors to discuss the issue were listed as “to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)” and to “protect the privacy of natural persons including that of a deceased natural person”.
Dyet announced in November that he would stand down after 15 years in the role – having originally joined the council in 1980 – giving the council ample time for find a successor.
The chief executive is the only position appointed by the elected council.
He or she will walk into a council which, like most around the country, is confronted by significant cost challenges.
Waipā has already bitten the bullet and shelved some major work – a $33 million museum plan was officially put on hold last month because of a “significant change” to the financial landscape.
At the time Dyet reported “it is prudent for all project works to be paused, including the discharge of the Te Ara Wai governance committee”.
But infrastructure work continues – businesses in Hautapu were given an update just last week on the extensive work being carried out on the district’s newest industrial hub.
The new council in late 2022 at Karapiro: l-r: Takena Stirling (since resigned), Mike Montgomerie, Clare St Pierre, Roger Gordon, deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, mayor Susan O’Regan, chief executive Garry Dyet, Marcus Gower, Andrew Brown, Lou Brown, Bruce Thomas. Absent: Philip Coles and Mike Pettit.
