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A Wellington city councilman filed a formal complaint about Mayor Andy Foster, who allegedly tried to share “defamatory” remarks about a former staff member before the council vote.
Councilwoman Jenny Condie attempted to make the claims at a Wellington City Council meeting on Wednesday, ahead of a vote on whether to sell and lease Council land in Shelly Bay to usher in mega-development.
Monique Ford / Stuff
Councilwoman Jenny Condie filed a formal complaint against Mayor Andy Foster (File photo).
This was blocked by Foster, who said she would need 75% of councilors to vote for her to make the statement. This vote failed, but Condie was allowed to file her complaint.
Condie, in the complaint filed by Stuff, alleged that Foster sent him a text message at 11:27 a.m. on Wednesday, two hours before the meeting.
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“We also spoke on the phone and he asked again to come by his office and said he had something to show me. I immediately went to see him, ”Condie said in the complaint.
She said that Foster had “hinted” to have information, previously undisclosed, and she believed this was what she wanted to share. This information, he allegedly told her, was significant and “I believed it would change my point of view on Shelly Bay Rd.”
Anna Fifield / Things
Protesters at the Shelly Bay rally on Wednesday
The narrowness of Shelly Bay Rd, the only route to the Miramar Peninsula site, and its ability to handle the increased traffic flow that the development would cause, has been a major sticking point for the development led by Ian Cassels.
Condie said that Foster had told her that he did not have permission to share the information he had with her.
“When I read those notes, they contained potentially defamatory allegations about the behavior of [a former staff member]”Said the complaint.
Ross Giblin / Stuff
Mayor Andy Foster stopped Condie from making a statement.
“These accusations are similar to those that were heard in Superior Court in 2018 and were dismissed. I think it is extremely unwise for the mayor to unfairly tarnish the professional integrity and probity of a former council official.
“Mayor Foster’s actions were inappropriate in my opinion, and I take this opportunity to request that his actions be investigated.
“I think I’m not the only councilman Mayor Foster has shown this information to.”
She alleged that she asked Foster if he would make the notes available to the public and to all councilors, but he indicated that he would not.
“I did not agree with him during the meeting because I considered this to be inappropriate. This is particularly true given the overriding public interest in all councilors making decisions based on them. [information]. “
Foster declined to comment.
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