Abrupt departure of Infrastructure Manager

Veronica from Levin

Concerns have been raised after a new Horowhenua District Council infrastructure manager appointed in August 2018 was gone less than four months later.

Council's chief executive David Clapperton said Andrew Grant was employed as General Manager Infrastructure Services on 20 August 2018 and his last day of employment was the 14 December, 2018.

Questions that will be referred to the Office of the Ombudsman because Mr Clapperton has refused to answer them include: Was his resignation voluntary? If not, why did his employment with HDC end? What are the reasons? Was Mr Grant provided with a severance payment over and above his base salary and if he was how much did Mr Grant receive over and above his base salary?

Mr Grant has not responded to requests for comment.

The abrupt departure comes at a critical time as the Council is applying for long overdue resource consents for essential infrastructure services including storm water and waste water.

There are also challenges around provision of water services and essential service pressures from an explosion in land and property development.

In response to how confident the public could be that essential services are being properly managed Mr Clapperton said quarterly reports were presented to the Finance Audit and Risk Committee.

He said the reporting involves financial and non-financial reporting, including operational performance. "This information is publicly available and should provide confidence that established service levels are being delivered," he said.

Mr Grant's departure came less than four days after Mr Grant directly advertised to appoint an Asset Planning Manager with, "Sound understanding of asset management and knowledge of asset management systems."

Mr Clapperton said Rob Green will be the acting group manager Infrastructure Services while Council recruits another Group Manager Infrastructure Services.

Council said the role, "was advertised on our website, on SEEK and in the NZ Herald."

The previous Group Manager Infrastructure Services Gallo Saidy worked for the Council between 2014 and 2018.

The only qualification Mr Saidy has listed on his professional network Linked In profile is a Master of Business Administration in Business Administration and Management, General 2015-2017.

Mr Saidy was also acting chief executive at times when Mr Clapperton was away.