Word on Butcher's future looming

Fliss Butcher
Fliss Butcher
Dunedin city councillor Fliss Butcher's future should be made public today, after a meeting behind closed doors yesterday to discuss her fate.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull was travelling to Wellington last night, and could not be contacted, but his deputy, Cr Chris Staynes, yesterday said Mr Cull planned to talk to Cr Butcher before he released any details, probably "in the next day or so".

Cr Butcher launched a scathing attack on Mr Cull in Saturday's Otago Daily Times, accusing him of political and gender bias in the selection of council committees.

The attack came after Cr Butcher walked out of the new council's first meeting late last month, and after she said last week the only thing that had stopped her resigning was the cost to the city of holding a by-election.

Cr Butcher, whose mother died recently, said last week she was in North Otago on sick leave, and would not be returning until cleared by her doctor.

She was absent from yesterday's planning and environment committee and extraordinary council meeting, but both the committee and the council - all councillors serve on both - accepted apologies from Cr Butcher with no discussion.

Cr Staynes said he was mindful of the public's demand at the election for a more open council.

 

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