The Otago Daily Times asked the Dunedin City Council how much had been spent on the three code of conduct investigations involving Cr Ong since his election in October last year.
Two code of conduct complaints against him have been upheld, while a third, made against another councillor by Cr Ong, was found to be without substance.
A council spokesman said costs were still being finalised but to date included $17,216 in investigator’s costs.
He was unable to provide cost details yesterday, saying staff were preparing for today’s annual plan deliberations.
Cr Ong, when asked what he made of the figure, said the investigations served a ‘‘Wellington cottage industry’’ and their findings were ‘‘predetermined’’.
He did not provide evidence to support his claims.
Few other councillors commented.
Cr Andrew Simms said there were many other costs attributable to Cr Ong’s ‘‘unpredictable’’ behaviour, including increased security at council meetings and increased draw on staff time.
‘‘But the greatest cost might yet be the adverse effect on Dunedin's reputation and on the confidence that the Dunedin community has in its elected members and council,’’ Cr Simms said.
‘‘That cost is incalculable, but most certainly significant.’’
Cr Jo Galer said the situation felt like a ‘‘very expensive game of tit for tat, with neither side coming to a satisfactory resolution’’.
‘‘Ultimately, Dunedin is the biggest loser here, reputationally and in terms of the quality of representation the city needs.’’
She said it was possible another approach, such as engaging a mediator, could cost less and produce more constructive results.
‘‘I suspect the total figure will end up being higher once all related legal and process costs are finalised, and I would be surprised if these are the final costs for the term given the ongoing nature of the issues,’’ Cr Hall said.
‘‘It is disappointing that things have reached this point at all, because ultimately it reflects poorly on the council and distracts from the work we were elected to do for the people of Dunedin.’’
Behind closed doors last week, councillors accepted the findings of independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg and decided Cr Ong had breached the council’s code of conduct.
The breach related to Cr Ong sharing commercially sensitive information on a possible Forsyth Barr Stadium hotel development.
The council suspended Cr Ong from all committees and subcommittees for nine months.
A complaint laid by Cr Ong against Cr John Chambers was dismissed by Ms Dyhrberg in February.
She found the evidence indicated Cr Ong had misinterpreted a remark by Cr Chambers and noted Cr Ong was ‘‘resistant to participating openly in the complaint process, despite it being his own complaint’’.
In March, councillors voted 10-2 to find Cr Ong in breach of the code of conduct over an email about a staff member and asked him to consider resigning — he declined.
