Cr Benedict Ong has again been accused of breaching the Dunedin City Council’s code of conduct.
He told news media of this development himself in an email he shared at 4.32pm yesterday.
At 4.27pm, council chief executive Sandy Graham had said ‘‘a failure to respect confidentiality at this point in the process is likely to constitute a further breach of the code of conduct’’.
The complaint was filed by Ms Graham.
It was about disclosure of confidential information and has been referred to independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg.
This came just over a month after Cr Ong’s colleagues asked him to consider resigning over an email he had sent about a council staff member.
Ms Dyhrberg had investigated this and her findings included that Cr Ong breached requirements he should not ‘‘disclose confidential information, criticise or compromise the impartiality or integrity of staff’’.
The latest complaint is understood to relate to information Cr Ong shared about the possibility of a hotel being built beside Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
In an email copied to several journalists on April 20, Cr Ong referred to the Russell Property Group as a potential developer.
It appeared possible this particular disclosure was inadvertent.
However, the next day, Cr Ong shared a series of emails with the Otago Daily Times.
Cr Simms pointed out involvement of the Russell Property Group had not been disclosed previously — ‘‘such disclosure may cause them to walk away’’, he said.
Cr Ong also shared emails by Ms Graham and Dunedin City Holdings chairman Tim Loan about the importance of councillors maintaining confidentiality.
‘‘Our ability to engage openly and constructively with council relies on the assurance that commercially sensitive information shared in good faith will be treated appropriately,’’ Mr Loan wrote.
Dunedin Venues later issued a statement saying the Russell Property Group had been engaged to further develop concept options and undertake a viability assessment for a hotel within the stadium precinct.
In her complaint, Ms Graham warned Cr Ong against further disclosure.
‘‘Please note that given the nature of the complaint, this matter is to be treated as confidential until such time as the investigator has reviewed the material.
‘‘The reasons for confidentiality are to protect council’s legal and commercial position, given the potential liability and commercial loss that has been created by your emails.’’
In an email to media yesterday, Cr Ong portrayed himself as a victim of ‘‘false attacks’’.
The code of conduct complaint was a continuation of this, he said.
Cr Simms told the ODT last week Cr Ong may have jeopardised $50 million of external investment in visitor accommodation for Dunedin, along with the resultant economic development such a project would bring.
In an email he did not share with media, but which Cr Ong passed on, Cr Simms said ‘‘the disclosure of this information may be highly prejudicial to the city’s position’’.
Last week, Cr Ong was almost ejected from a council meeting over a stadium hotel reference.
He appeared to struggle to understand he needed to withdraw an incorrect statement.
