Perry too busy for 20 meetings | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

''Toughing out'' international business has been blamed by Masterton District councillor Edwin Perry for skipping meetings while still collecting his council pay cheque. Cr Perry has missed 20 _ or 28 per cent _ of the 71 council meetings he should have attended since his election in October 2007.
His record was raised again after he missed the annual rate-setting meeting last week _ making three recent absences in a row.
Cr Perry receives his monthly salary of $1712, irrespective of whether he attends the meetings.
He said yesterday that he was in the midst of ''re-establishing myself after four tough years in business'' and he apologised ''to any voters who may have become concerned about my absences''.
He said he was now part of a seven-strong international business team, along with two of his brothers, for the New Image company that produces dietary supplements and is breaking into Asian markets.
Cr Perry first attracted criticism from fellow councillors when it was revealed he had missed 16 council meetings since September last year.
''I've missed four meetings since then _ twice I was in Malaysia and twice at [the New Image] head office in Auckland. I've tendered apologies each and every time and strictly followed protocol.
''I knew I would draw negativity but my absences were absolutely unavoidable. Things have been really tough for years now and re-establishing myself can't be done overnight _ it takes time.''
Acting Mayor Jane Terpstra said she was concerned and felt he had not given sufficient reasons for his serial absences.
''It has got to be quite a few meetings and this annual plan has been an important time for the council. If there's any meeting you have to be there for, it's that one.''
Chief executive Wes Ten Hove said Cr Perry was absent due to a business arrangement.
He said councillors could not always attend meetings _ especially extraordinary meetings _ and the most common reasons related to health, business or another political role.
It was wrong to assume a councillor's absence from a meeting meant he was not pulling his weight.
''He [Edwin Perry] has spoken to me three to four times over 3-4 months about matters that are material to the council but are not material to the agenda,'' he said.
Under the Local Government Act missing a meeting is not a strike against a councillor unless they miss four meetings in a row without their absence being accepted by the council.
Mr Ten Hove said councillors had voted to accept Cr Perry's absence at each meeting. ''The harsh reality behind the scenes needs to be thought out. You might actually be on council business and, as far as I can see, each one is put to the council and the council decides yes or no.''
Cr Brent Goodwin, who has criticised Cr Perry's absences since last year, admitted that he had accepted the absent councillor's apologies on every occasion.
''If it's just one person registering their protest it turns around and bites you because, when you try and put something out that you want, it goes against you.''
He hoped he now had the support of council members to vote against accepting Cr Perry's apology next meeting.
Cr Perry represents the urban ward and receives $20,553 a year as a councillor and chairman of the Maori liaison task group.