Hudson and Chin mum over apology

Dunedin city councillor Paul Hudson has offered a second apology to a ratepayer following a heated exchange between the pair, but Mayor Peter Chin is refusing to say if any further action will be taken.

Chisholm Park Golf Club golf professional Andrew Whiley laid a formal complaint against Cr Hudson on September 25, the day after he claimed Cr Hudson, during an angry telephone call, linked him to the death of a man at Lawyers Head on September 24.

Mr Whiley's exchange with Cr Hudson came after Mr Whiley questioned plans for a new security fence at Lawyers Head in the days before the death.

Since then, Mr Whiley has been waiting nearly three months for an outcome and yesterday told the Otago Daily Times he believed his complaint was no longer being investigated.

In that time he had received two apologies from Cr Hudson - the first, a one-line note, sent in November, and a second longer apology, written on December 3.

However, he said he was yet to hear back from Mr Chin since reiterating - during meetings and discussions in October and November - he wanted his formal complaint to proceed.

"I'm actually quite disappointed. I haven't heard anything from Peter Chin or the Mayor's office. I have got a feeling they are just thinking: `We're done'."

"I did lay a formal complaint. Is this how they treat all formal complaints?"

Mr Chin said when contacted he had signed a letter to be posted to Mr Whiley yesterday morning, but refused to say what was in it or whether the process was complete.

"The process has got to a stage where I have come to a decision, and I'm relaying it to a person who has not got it yet.

"I have written him a letter, but I'm not going to tell you what's in it. It's a letter I have written to him and I'm not prepared to release it."

Asked if he would discuss the outcome the complaint once the letter had been received, Mr Chin said: "I will make that decision when you come back to me".

Cr Hudson said when contacted the complaint had been dealt with by Mr Chin and council staff.

He did not know if the investigation was ongoing.

Of his second apology, Cr Hudson said: "Peter [Chin] told me I wasn't to discuss it with anyone. I'm following his instructions to the letter."

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

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