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Old Boys
The mayor appointed Paul le
Gros to fill "the mayor's" directorship on the Port Company - the
same guy whose office in
town was used by Hands Up to count the vote returns.
Jim - Nelson
Natureland
The handsup council have broken promises and are on a slash and burn mission already. Amalgamation, their main election platform is very silent now. Handsup have their own agenda and Nelson is about to pay the price of this con job with Natureland just the start. Natureland should be sold to the private sector if the Council cannot operate it and cover costs.
Our kids are the losers with this council. Its more of the same with even larger rate increases to fund the hidden agendas of Handsup. Nelson will get even poorer as the Handsup clan get their own way at our expense. Apart from sucking cocktails where is the Mayor taking Nelson. Same way as he did in Tasman? Watch the hurt and protests. Natureland is not even the tip of the iceberg.
Terry - Stoke
Mainland TV listings
Why can't Mainland show more detail like the other TV channels and list all its channels in the paper. I stopped getting the paper last month as it's developed in a poor tired rag but even the TV Guide could do better. Come on Mainland, you have some great programs- tell us when they are on.
Sarah - Motueka
Council
Its not a fair go to criticise the Nelson council as they have not had the time to settle in. Many of the new inexperienced councilors need time to learn the ropes. Start and offer them help instead of sitting on the fence. We elected them and we should stand by them.
Gavin - The Wood
Who's at the helm?
Being
a frequent visitor to the library I have an interest in perusing council
activities and reading the minutes of meetings. Where is the Mayor? Every
Council paper I see someone else signs on behalf of the Mayor. Is Mr Marshall
another Graham Thorne? Have we been misled again? Is Mr Marshall away playing
rugby? A thorny subject but an
obvious observation. The ship is floundering with no one at the helm.
Terrance
- Monaco
Nelson City Council to
Sell Port Company?
Heaps
of rumors are flying around Nelson saying that the Nelson City Council is
about to sell the port company to raise funds for a new performing arts centre
and other pet projects. Does anyone have any facts? We need to stop this fire
sale because the dividends from the port company help keep our rates down.
Paul
- Tahuna
Local Economy
What
are the two Councils going to do to help the local economy. There are plenty of
warning signs from economists and things Councils can do. My kids have gone to
Australia and have good jobs so when the World economy takes a big dive and the
local councils do their bit perhaps we may see our kids back here working. I
guess I have more change winning Lotto than our councils do anything but
over-spend. 11% rate rises and inflation at 3% - it will mean in 75 years time
the rates will exceed the average yearly wage.
Tom - Richmond (ex Nelson)
Open
letter to Mayor and Councillors
Last
week, you deemed it necessary to commission a poll of Nelson residents to determine
the level of community support for Natureland - together with, I would
presume - the determination of their collective wish
as to whether the Nelson City Council should continue to render substantial
financial support to Natureland, irrespective of who or what organisation
might take over the running of it.
However,
council expenditure as proposed for the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary includes
$250,000 for the coming financial year and $750,000 for next year - and these
amounts appear to have been budgeted without any input having been sought
by council as to the actual desires of Nelson residents for such a project.
Therefore,
in accordance with the precedent now set by the commissioning of the "Natureland
poll," may I request that a poll be commissioned immediately in respect
of development of the proposed the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary - and that
any decision to proceed or not proceed with it - be thereafter dependent on
the outcome of the poll.
Jim
- Nelson
With fuel, power, food and many other costs increasing the Councils luxury wish list should be put on hold and they should stick to the knitting.
To say the rates must increase for the region to have the necessary amenities for growth shows gross incompetence, a lack of the necessary business skills and total miss-management.
Councils have a legal requirement to set rates at a level the community can afford and the Nelson City Council so far is digging Nelson into an even bigger predictable hole.
Businesses are the powerhouse of our economy and if Council started building positive relations and developed viable partnerships instead of attacking businesses then we could have more amenities without the huge rate increases.
It's often said the only sure things in life are death and income tax. Rate increases can now be added to the list, even ahead of road works.
The Aldo Miccio story contains revelations of a new inner-city working group and a proposed property committee to ensure the council has flexibility to act on land-banking and other strategies.
What problems are going to be foisted on the long-suffering rate-payers if HandsUp starts investing in property at this stage. We have seen previous councils with far more experience than the present “New chums” engaging in this sort of thing in the past and showing very little profit from the deals.
Of course, the details are always hidden from the public on grounds of commercial sensitivity and by the time the facts become known it is too late for the Auditor-General to be alerted and in any event there is no sanction which applies to the councillors whose incompetence can cost the rate-payers many thousands.
Councillor Miccio was significantly
absent throughout the election campaign and relied on his fellow handy companions
to win his council seat. I note that he does not expect to be around beyond
the end of this term. He may well be right.
