A proposal to replace or refurbish the dinosaur slide as part of upgrades to St Kilda’s Marlow Park prompted a series of emails between Dunedin city councillors, including one Cr Jo Galer felt was directed at her and which she said had ‘‘shocked’’ her.
Cr Galer said the email from Cr Mandy Mayhem alleged unprofessionalism and inappropriate behaviour.
‘‘I certainly was not rude and I would never make comments about a co-worker in the way Ms Galer has,’’ Cr Mayhem said.
During debate on changes to the Dunedin City Council’s annual plan yesterday, Cr Galer opened her speech by alluding to the email, which was sent after the meeting began.
‘‘I’ll try and speak, given that I’m actually feeling a little bit shocked by an email I’ve just received from a person at this council table,’’ she said.
‘‘There was a time in my life when I would take that, but I will not any more.’’
It followed a series of emails on Wednesday that discussed proposals for the dinosaur slide’s future following a workshop on upgrades to Marlow Park. The project has an approved budget of $4.6 million.
It is understood Wednesday’s emails centred on the large social media reaction to the dinosaur’s future and a campaign headed by Cr Andrew Simms to ‘‘save it’’.
Two options on the slide’s future were presented for discussion at the workshop: upgrade and incorporate it into the new park or replace it with a new dinosaur slide.
A detailed park design will be developed and presented to councillors for approval.
Cr Galer said she sent an email on Wednesday night to councillors and council staff disagreeing with the ‘‘embarrassing’’ prospect of demolishing the slide.
Yesterday, she acknowledged including staff in that email was a mistake and said she had apologised for it.
However, she felt the suggestions of unprofessional behaviour from Cr Mayhem impacted her ‘‘ability to participate as effectively as I might’’ at yesterday’s council meeting.
In her email, which she sent to all councillors, Cr Mayhem said to do otherwise was ‘‘totally inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour’’.
Cr Galer said she felt Cr Mayhem’s comments were directed at her.
‘‘This felt like, pardon the pun, a playground beat-up, and a sledgehammer to crack a nut - an overreach about the unintended mistake I had made,’’ Cr Galer said.
‘‘I have informed the mayor I don’t think any councillor should expect emails alleging unprofessionalism and inappropriate behaviour while they are getting started at open public council meetings,’’ Cr Galer said.
Cr Mayhem said Cr Galer was ‘‘overreacting’’ and the email was not directed at her.
‘‘I asked my colleagues if I was out of line - no-one else took it personally or took offence.’’
The discussion on the future of the dinosaur prompted an emotional response from hundreds of people on social media on Wednesday, with most appearing to support its retention.
Cr Simms subsequently spoke in favour of retaining the 1960s dinosaur on RNZ’s Morning Report yesterday.
