Napier Mayor Richard McGrath wears his mayoral chains at an earthquake memorial service at the Waiapu Cathedral.
Napier Mayor Richard McGrath wears his mayoral chains at an earthquake memorial service at the Waiapu Cathedral.
Napier councillors are gathering for a private meeting after Mayor Richard McGrath was accused of “reckless” decision making when standing down Deputy Mayor Sally Crown.
Several councillors were seen meeting at the Napier War Memorial Centre on Tuesday morning.
Hawke’s Bay Today was told on Tuesday morning by a sourcethat a block of councillors were unhappy with McGrath’s decisions.
Asked about the agenda of the meeting as he was driving to it, Councillor Keith Price said he would not confirm what it was about.
Councillor Shyann Raihania said the meeting was closed to the public and media, and was a “councillor catch-up”.
The only scheduled council meeting today is a water services workshop.
Councillors left the meeting about 12.30pm today, and declined to comment.
McGrath said he would release a statement later this afternoon.
Napier’s council made national headlines in February when McGrath stood Crown down.
She had refused his request to resign and instead stated he should undergo leadership training for what she called “ad-hoc”, “reckless” and “chaotic” decision-making.
The unprecedented breakdown between the pair played out in public at a Napier City Council meeting.
Sally Crown and Mayor Richard McGrath. Photo / NCC
Crown said at the time the “abrupt” nature of the mayor’s actions were about “control and coercion” and to demonstrate there was “unfettered power” attached to the role of mayor.
She was considering a judicial review of the decision, depending on advice she received regarding the potential cost to ratepayers.
McGrath appointed Roger Brownlie in her place later in the week.
