Masterton’s town hall was labelled “a dog” as accusations of politicking flew at a council meeting on Wednesday.
During an update on Masterton’s town hall demolition, councillors Tim Nelson and Brent Goodwin quizzed staff on next steps and the impact of the soon-to-be-released recommendations of the Government’s earthquake-prone buildings review.
The council’s group manager of infrastructure Maseina Koneferenisi said details around the demolition contract were still commercially sensitive, but that there would be “activity in coming days” such as surveying and preparation for taking possession of the town hall site for safety purposes.
The council was waiting for approval of a site safety plan before the demolition contract could be signed, she said.
Nelson asked whether it would be misinformation if “someone implied” the earthquake-prone rating of the whole town hall building was 10%, a comment directed at Masterton mayor Gary Caffell.
Koneferenisi said parts of the town hall were rated as low as 10%.
The government’s seismic risk guidance for buildings is that the worst performing element determined the overall earthquake rating of a building.
Nelson asked which parts were rated that low and Goodwin asked whether it would count if “the projection box was a bit heavy and up high” and was rated poorly.
Masterton District Council chief executive Kym Fell said “these questions are silly” and that Nelson’s line of questioning to staff was “leading and condescending”.
Caffell told Nelson he had “never said the whole building was 10%”.
“I have said there are parts of that building structurally which are 10%.
“You’re playing political games and I’m sick of it. I know the elections are coming up and I know you’re trying to make a point.”
Caffell then said the town hall and municipal buildings were not being demolished solely because of the earthquake rating.
“It’s because that building is a dog.”
Nelson responded: “It might be a dog to you but it’s not to me. It’s one of the most iconic buildings and we are going to destroy it because it’s not fit for purpose.
“Shame on us as a council.”
Caffell said he was “sick and tired” of Nelson and Goodwin “playing games”.
On his Masterton Matters Facebook page, Caffell later reflected that he “always thought the last council meeting of the triennium would be a feisty one and so it was with the mayor getting a bit hotter under the collar than usual with a couple of councillors”.
LDR is local body journalism funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.
