The Alexandra Business Group has distanced itself from and apologised for comments made by its acting secretary during a Vincent Community Board meeting earlier this week.
During the meeting on Monday, acting secretary and Vincent board member Stu Millis, who is standing by his statements, had used his member's report at the meeting to criticise what he said were shortcomings in work carried out by Tourism Central Otago (TCO).
Business group chairman Bruce Davidson said he had sent an apology to Central Otago District Council chief executive Phil Melhopt to ''calm the water''.
''Stu spoke out of turn and spoke his view and used the name of the business group when he should not have. What he said was not authorised or direct from the business group. It was just him talking.''
The apology had been sent by the group as they had to ''really clarify'' that Mr Millis was not speaking on its behalf.
The discussion when the comments had been made was about the TCO website, he said.
''He has gone a wee bit off on his own about that,'' Mr Davidson said.
Mr Millis had come under fire from board members and Mr Melhopt for his criticism of TCO staff.
Mr Davidson said Mr Millis was still a member of the group.
''From our point of view he is a valuable member of our group. He is passionate about Central [Otago] and what happens in the community.''
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times, Mr Millis said his comments came from his member's report at the meeting, not the business group.
''What I said was not on behalf of the business group ... I probably did not make it clear enough.''
He had seen the apology yesterday, which was ''fair enough''.
Mr Davidson said it was in the interest of both groups to maintain their relationship, and that there would be no winners if it they could not continue to work together.
Mr Melhopt said he had received an apology and had forwarded it to council and Vincent Community Board members.
He confirmed the council was committed to working with the business group in the future.
While there was ''dust in the air'' at the moment, it would settle, he said.
