Three vote against CEO's interim appointment
“The (Parry’s) appointment was a business decision, nothing more, nothing less. “We had to ensure continuity and stability as we’ve got a couple of significant workstreams to get over the line."
The Gore District Council voted nine-three in favour of having long-term CEO Steve Parry stay on in an interim role.
Parry resigned last month and was due to finish on October 31.
However, on Tuesday the council resolved to appoint Parry as interim chief executive during the recruitment of a new chief executive.
The council’s general manager of community lifestyle services Rex Capil has previously taken on the acting CEO role in Parry’s absence. He was viewed as the likely option to take on the role, in at least an interim basis.
However, Capil’s resigned last week with him set to join the Invercargill City Council in a senior role.
The Gore council has confirmed it voted nine to three to offer Parry the interim role while it looks for a new chief executive.
Acting Mayor Keith Hovell said the council was keen to start the recruitment process as soon as possible and should be able to name the successful candidate early in the new year.
Hovell said the unexpected resignation of Capil meant councillors had to move decisively to reassure staff and the community there was an experienced, steady set of hands at the helm.
The council has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure it continues to operate effectively and efficiently, he said.
“The (Parry’s) appointment was a business decision, nothing more, nothing less.
“We had to ensure continuity and stability as we’ve got a couple of significant workstreams to get over the line – namely the 2024-34 Long Term Plan and the Proposed District Plan.
“We are a small council and do not have the resources to fill, at short notice, the significant gaps that the departure of the chief executive and deputy chief executive would leave.”
The intermediary appointed earlier this year would continue in that role.
Hovell said it was important to understand that the appointment of an interim chief executive was an employment matter. As such, it was confidential between the Council and Parry.
The terms and conditions of Parry’s temporary role have not yet been agreed, he said.
The council has appointed South Island recruitment agency Brannigans to lead the search for its new chief executive.