Leaked Emails Show Mayor’s Turnabout On Town Hall

Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 8:05 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

Emails between Masterton's mayor and councillors have been leaked, adding fuel to the already heated town hall debate.

Councillor Brent Goodwin, who leaked the emails, has accused his colleagues of poor decision-making and wants the decision revoked.

It comes as the council is set to adopt its Long-Term Plan [LTP] on Wednesday.

As part of the draft LTP, the council plans to demolish the earthquake-prone town hall, municipal buildings, and facade, and build a new town hall on the current site.

In the leaked email from late May, Mayor Gary Caffell told councillors he was "no longer in favour of pushing ahead with the town hall rebuild".

"While I personally believe that Masterton needs a town hall and that it could very well be a huge asset for our town in 20-30 years time, I believe the timing simply isn't right to go down that path," he said.

He also said that the chances of getting a favourable business case for a new town hall were "virtually non-existent".

A week later, at LTP deliberations, Caffell voted in favour of a motion to demolish the town hall, municipal buildings, and facade, and rebuild at a budget of no more than $25 million.

Councillor Brent Goodwin said he leaked the email to media to show "one aspect of poor decision-making on this project and that some people made their decision based on who they chatted to the day before".

He said the motion to proceed with the town hall rebuild was at odds with evidence-based decision making which uses reliable data and expert analysis to reach good outcomes.

He has filed a notice of motion for Wednesday's meeting to revoke the previously agreed motion on the town hall.

Goodwin said he wanted to leave the existing town hall and municipal buildings and noted the government's changed regulations don't require any action [on earthquake strengthening] until 2031".

Caffell said he was "disappointed but not in the least bit surprised" that Goodwin had leaked "private" emails.

"Firstly, I need to say I have spent damn near a decade now fighting for us to rebuild the old town hall on its current site and my support for that to happen is still as strong as it ever was."

He said the email was "very much based around keeping the rebuild on the table".

"A deferral of 12 months would have done that and it would still have meant this council making the final decision.

"When you have been part of two councils pretty well dragged down by this debate you wouldn't wish it on another."

He said his mind changed after sending the May email when he spoke to people with "extensive experience" in the entertainment industry.

The mayor said he was pleasantly surprised how many of them felt usage would not be a problem, especially with a smart marketing strategy.

"But the most important influence in me changing my latest stance was the proposal eventually put to council by Deputy Mayor Bex Johnson that we demolish the old town hall, municipal buildings and facade and rebuild the town hall at a fixed price of $25m.

"I freely admit the demolition of the facade especially initially left an empty feeling in the gut as nobody on council had fought harder over many years for its retention than me.

"But with affordability very much at the forefront of discussions and the consultation process showing support for the facade's retention was clearly waning the saving of more than $2m by demolishing the facade became a prudent decision."

Caffell said there had been multiple "changes of heart" around the council table regarding the town hall over the years.

"Interestingly at [a recent] council meeting, councillor Goodwin himself signalled he would move a motion to proceed with the demolition of the old town hall, facade, and municipal buildings and that council works towards a feasibility study of what to do afterwards.

"This is somewhat different from his notice of motion which now asks for no decision on demolition until 2031. Bit like calling the kettle black isn't it?"

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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