Footage of yesterday’s Dunedin City Council meeting showed Cr Russell Lund at one point turn and say something to Cr Steve Walker, who could then be heard off-screen replying: ‘‘Don't tell me to shut up".
Speaking after the meeting, Cr Lund said Cr Walker had ‘‘a very annoying habit of muttering under his breath when other councillors are speaking and acting as a Greek chorus when he doesn’t agree with the councillor speaking’’.
‘‘This occurs many times each meeting and on this occasion I lost patience with it.’’
Cr Walker said the pot was calling the kettle black — Cr Lund was called out by Cr Christine Garey for ‘‘smirking and laughing while she talked’’, he said.
‘‘My anger emanated from Russell's terrible treatment of staff in the public setting.
‘‘It's one thing to robustly question staff, but to do it in such a disrespectful and accusatory way is not acceptable.
‘‘I will not 'shut up' while staff are unfairly treated in a situation in which they have little power to push back against the elected members.’’
Councillors had been hearing from staff with regards to the hearing committee’s recommendations on proposed parking changes.
He also questioned if staff were ‘‘saying that the submission is wrong’’, where they believed the effects of the Harbour Arterial Route stopped and if they had considered ‘‘consulting with any of the businesses or buildings along Wharf St and Thomas Burns St about the intended effects?’’
City services general manager Scott MacLean chimed in.
‘‘Asking staff about effects beyond what’s put here in front of you is a little bit unfair and probably out of process,’’ he said.
‘‘And I will remind you, staff are here to answer questions, but this is the recommendations of a hearings panel of your colleagues.’’
When Cr Lund began to speak again, deputy mayor Cherry Lucas called a point of order and Mayor Sophie Barker said: ‘‘I think you need to be very careful’’.
Meeting footage then showed Cr Lund turning to say something to Cr Walker, who could then be heard off-screen replying: ‘‘Don’t tell me to shut up’’.
The point of order, which Cr Lucas said was for disrespect, was upheld and Cr Lund was asked to withdraw, which he did.
