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February 17, 2020 February 2020 No Comments

Happy new year to you all

The beginning of a new decade, a new council a new Mayor and a lot of new challenges ahead of us, water being only one of the many. It’s going to be full on for the next few years. Councillors and the Mayor have been busy settling into their new roles, with induction courses on what is expected of us as councillors under the Local Government Act. Though very time consuming they are necessary not only for our own development but to help us to be more effective councillors. 

We are now into our second year of the new committee structure. These committee meeting are open to the public and it is disappointing that we don’t have more ratepayers attending; after all it was adopted so the ratepayer could be more informed on the many issues that we face. 

Needless to say they are working as intended, with a bit more fine tuning we will be onto a better way of governance. As the outgoing chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk committee I’m pleased that the new committee has acted on my suggestion to appoint an independent member onto this committee. Once again this gives you the ratepayer confidence that all is as it should be.

There have been some staff changes over the last few months, many of these people have moved onto higher positions within local government. This tells me that our council is turning out very competent skilled people and we need to be proud of that.

  I do need to make mention of one of our staff members who is leaving us. This person stepped into the role of acting CEO just as the boil water notice was issued 12 months ago and had to hit the ground running. It’s not easy when you have just taken over a new role and everyone is taking pot shots at you. So Jennie Mitchell take a bow, you are a star.

When you are contemplating the problems over Wairarapa’s water or lack of, take time to reflect on the recent issues that our Auzzie cousins have had to endure over the last few years. Drought, Fires followed by floods and this isn’t “Climate Change!!!!”

Take care  Brian Jephson Councillor Martinborough Ward    

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