Council chief executive Sandy Graham decided in February to withdraw governance support officers (GSOs) from Mosgiel Taieri Community Board meetings and signalled this would not be reviewed before elections in October.
The suspension of such officers attending the board’s meetings was in response to "questioning of their qualifications, advice and integrity by some board members, in public meetings and in public correspondence where staff have no ability to respond," Ms Graham said.
"This is not an acceptable environment for our staff.
"The decision to withdraw our GSOs is about staff wellbeing, not politics, and is not without precedent in Dunedin.
"Staff have behaved professionally and in a politically neutral way at all times, and we reject any suggestion to the contrary."
The councillor appointed to the community board this term, Carmen Houlahan, said she could understand the chief executive’s call, because some comments had been disrespectful.
"The CEO has to protect the staff," Cr Houlahan said.
However, she and board chairwoman Joy Davis were among those left with little support, Cr Houlahan said.
It would be better if the board had more support, instead of less, she said.
Ms Graham said parks and recreation group manager Scott MacLean was continuing to attend board meetings and provide "appropriate levels of governance support".
Administration support outside of the public meetings was still managed by the GSO team, she said.
Ms Davis said she had been offered "full staff support before and after meetings, indeed at all times".
Asked if she believed the presence of a GSO would assist the functioning of the board, Ms Davis said "yes".
However, Ms Davis did not believe the Mosgiel-Taieri area was being short-changed by the city council.
"Not all members accept the advice of very capable staff, and can be overbearing and very disrespectful of people and process," she said.
The latest disagreement between the council and the community board was about planned intersection changes outside the new Mosgiel pool, which is under construction.
The board recommended this month the city council "put an immediate stop to all procedures and development of the new Mosgiel pool intersection until a public hearing is held as per the Resource Management Act with a full assessment made by the council of the effects of this intersection on the immediate and wider Mosgiel-Taieri community".
Ms Graham said the resolution was not valid because responsibility for the intersection rested ultimately with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, as the controlling authority for state highways.
The board was given advice before it voted that the resolution would be invalid, Ms Graham said.
When the discussion was held, there was an adjournment from 5.30pm for three minutes, another adjournment for a minute at 5.35pm and a third adjournment for six minutes from 5.40pm.
Cr Houlahan said the issue might have been dealt with more smoothly if a GSO had been present.
All of the board were passionate about the area they were responsible for, she said.
Board member Brian Peat said the council’s response to the board’s recommendation was embarrassing.
"It was merely a resolution to ensure the public is consulted," Mr Peat said.
Board member Brian Miller questioned the location of the planned entry to the new pool, which will be at the intersection of Gordon Rd and Eden St.
He doubted the safety of installing traffic lights near the Silver Stream bridge and he was worried about sight lines for motorists coming into Mosgiel from Outram.
