He has refused to apologise for what an investigator found was intimidating behaviour at a July council meeting - deciding instead to resign from both the Otago Museum Trust Board and Dunedin's district licensing committee.
Cr Vandervis had faced being stripped of those roles if he did not deliver the apology required of him by the council after councillors confirmed yesterday he had breached the code of the conduct.
"I have considered the resolution of the council and decided that I cannot in good conscience deliver the apology insisted on, as it would be dishonest and insincere," Cr Vandervis said in a statement on social media.
"I am disappointed that this means that I need to resign from the positions that I volunteered for as councillor on the Otago Museum Trust and the Dunedin Licensing Committee.
"I have enjoyed the contribution that I have made to each organisation and I hope that the councillor who replaces me will be able to contribute as I have in the interests of those organisations and Dunedin City ratepayers."I will not be making any further comment on this matter."
Cr Vandervis' decision to step aside from the roles came after an investigation of his conduct following a council meeting on July 28.
He shouted at and pointed his finger in the face of deputy mayor Christine Garey when confronting her about her ruling on a point of order.
On Tuesday, councillors required him to apologise unreservedly by November 3 or have his membership revoked of the museum board and licensing committee.
He had previously tended an apology for "loudness", but not for intimidation or aggression.
Two councillors had labelled that apology "weak" and "pathetic".
Councillors also took issue with what they described as a pattern of behaviour from Cr Vandervis.
The Dunedin City Council has kept a substantial file on Cr Vandervis, listing a series of incidents that became heated.
Cr Vandervis took matters into his own hands today, choosing to depart the roles, rather than tender an apology deemed acceptable by councillors.
Councillors had been united in calling on Cr Vandervis to control his temper and suggestions were made he should sign up for an anger-management course.
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"He shouted at and pointed his finger in the face of deputy mayor Christine Garey when confronting her about her ruling on a point of order" oh so he has been convicted in a court of law of doing so now has he?, days ago it was alleged he had done so.
Narcissist’s rarely apologise. In all his years on council his legacy is all negative and destructive. To achieve anything constructive you must take people with you. Vandervis is not capable of it...he needs to be gone.
A city which elects benson pope and david clark and arron hawkins will get what it voted for.
Isn't that the point of elections?
Bring it on.
He already verbally apologized. Why does he have to do it in writing? What difference does it make? Nobody is going to accept the apology regardless of how many times he makes it, written or verbal. DCC just wants to rub his nose in what they consider a win. Good on you Lee! Stick to your guns! No matter what you do DCC will try and force you out. Your the only person on council with the integrity to stand up for what you believe in. Keep up your efforts mate!
The fact that he's narcissistic with anger management issues needs no further acknowledgement. His subsequent statements which portray himself as the victim simply confirm the narcissism.
One of the most disturbing patterns of behaviour is that his aggressive and overbearing outbursts are almost always directed at women. Some see no problem with that, but many of us do - and it certainly leaves us wondering why.
It's likely he'll learn nothing from this latest anger-fueled tirade. It seems he's digging in for the fight and his own righteousness. Narcissism 101. The problem is, we're stuck with him - and he knows it full well.