Dicey unrepentant over online remark

Robin Dicey
Robin Dicey
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan says he is "disappointed" about a Facebook comment made by Cromwell Community Board member Robin Dicey that appears to "insinuate criticism" of fellow elected members, but Mr Dicey says he stands by the comment and is "happy I made it".

Mr Dicey made the comment on August 9 on the "You know you are from Cromwell when" Facebook page, during a discussion about the council’s decision to approve construction of 28 new hangars at the Cromwell Aerodrome.

One person asked why  people voted for a community board every three years when "it appears" the  board "is ignored" by those "at the CODC [Central Otago District Council] ... assisted by our three un-voted-for councillors".

Mr Dicey replied "One tries really hard to do her best for Cromwell".

There is only one female Cromwell councillor, Shirley Calvert, and she voted against the council’s decision to approve the aerodrome hangars.

The others are Neil Gillespie and Nigel McKinlay, who voted for the extra hangars.

Mr Cadogan said no complaints had been made to the council about Mr Dicey’s Facebook comment, but "it is disappointing to see one member insinuate criticism of other elected members through Facebook".

When contacted by the Otago Daily Times, Mr Dicey said he stood by the comment and was "happy I made it".

Tim Cadogan
Tim Cadogan
He said he was trying to draw attention to the fact that Mrs Calvert had voted against the hangar development and Mr Gillespie and Mr McKinlay had voted for it.

When asked if he thought the comment implied criticism of Mr Gillespie and Mr McKinlay or breached the council’s code of conduct, Mr Dicey declined to comment.

The code of conduct says under the heading  "values" that elected members "will treat people, including other members, with respect and courtesy"; and, in the "relationships between members" section, says members will conduct their dealings with each other in a manner that maintains public confidence, is courteous and avoids aggressive, offensive or abusive conduct, including the use of disrespectful or malicious language.

Any failure by members to act in the manner described in the "relationships between members" section represented a breach of the code, it said.

When asked if he thought Mr Dicey’s Facebook comment breached those parts of the code, Mr Cadogan said he was not willing to "speculate" on whether something breached the code or not "without the proper process to make that determination having been gone through".

Mr Gillespie and Mr McKinlay said they were aware of Mr Dicey’s Facebook post but declined to comment on it.

Mrs Calvert said she had not seen the Facebook post "so can’t comment".

The Otago Daily Times reported last week that Mr Dicey was given a warning about breaching parts of the code of conduct after an incident late last year, in which he went on to private land near Cromwell owned by River Terrace Developments.

pam.jones@odt.co.nz

Comments

How small minded and petty to shame a board member publicly over 'nothing'.
Surely time would would be better spent on more important issues in the community.

 

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