Tauranga City Council has made a payment to former chief executive officer Ken Paterson's widow - but Mayor Stuart Crosby cannot discuss it.
The 61-year-old former CEO died in his sleep in June last year leaving behind his wife Melanie and their family children – three-year-old son Findley, and then seven-month-old twins Mackenzie and Elliott.
Former Tauranga City Council CEO Ken Paterson died in June 2012.
Today the Mayor confirmed a payment was made but says due to privacy issues for Ken's family he is not about to discuss the amount or reasons for payment.
'It wasn't a large sum, and it was made for a number of issues that we can't discuss,” says Stuart.
Publicity is putting him in a difficult situation, says Stuart. Not only does he have to respect the family's privacy, but Ken is also not able to defend himself or make a comment.
'What I can say is being the chief executive officer is an incredibly difficult and challenging job and it does create large amounts of pressure on the individual,” says Stuart.
'Bearing in mind I have seen Allan Bickers, Paula Thompson, Stephen Town, Ken Paterson, and Leigh Auton for a short period of time.
'They would find being chief executive officer of this organisation an incredibly difficult and high pressure job. That's why they get paid well, for acting and delivering on the expectations of elected members.”
Ken was admitted to Tauranga Hospital's cardiac unit in May last year suffering from chest pains. He died a month later.
He was appointed TCC's CEO in April 2011.
24 comments
With the greatest of respect...
Posted on 18-03-2013 17:27 | By Tony
How the HELL can an elected group of people make this sort of call...Would they do the same should a parking warden (God forbid) after hours pass away????
We ratepayers are paying
Posted on 18-03-2013 17:56 | By Phailed
So I would like to ask the mayor, Cr Murray Guy and any other councillor who cares to reply, how we end up paying even more on top of an already very large salary? Of course a death is regrettable, but this is public money being used. Why is it that around the world, CEOs salaries and benefits have risen way out of proportion to the lower wages most of us use to pay our rates?
Disappointing but not surprising
Posted on 19-03-2013 00:34 | By Murray.Guy
"Publicity is putting him in a difficult situation," says Stuart. "Not only does he have to respect the family's privacy, but Ken is also not able to defend himself or make a comment." ... I can assure the community that Ken Paterson has absolutely nothing to be 'defensive about'. Ken's actions, integrity and example set during his brief tenure at Tauranga City Council were exemplary and are sorely missed by many. His loyalty to his staff and best community outcomes unwavering. It is disappointing that a few should ananymously question the rights to privacy in this instance, and choose to make comment that frankly, appears to be most uniformed and wide of the mark on all counts.
Council staff, what it looks like
Posted on 19-03-2013 01:49 | By TERMITE
Warm, cozy, happy, little to do, wander in when want, out whenever feel like it, credit card in case essentials are required, over paid and some, guaranteed annual increases, the more bunnies beneath the more the pay increase ... like how could stress come into it anywehre at all?
Shame on you
Posted on 19-03-2013 08:01 | By Caped Crusader
Oh my goodness, I honestly did not think that human integrity could get any worse but you guys have managed to surpass yourselves. This guy has left behind a wife and 3 children who are still grieving for their loss and you post these defamatory comments. What is wrong with you people, show some respect, the world is not all about rates, council and hiding behind a keyboard to offend other people.
Questions for Cr Guy about his comments
Posted on 19-03-2013 10:02 | By Phailed
When privacy suits in your opinion, you seem to be all for secrecy when it comes to Council spending? There is no disrespect in questioning why after the sad death of a man who happened to be a highly paid CEO, your Council pays out an unknown amount of money? I am shocked by your Council's spending fullstop. Not only does your council hire CEOs but they then go on to hire consultants. Why does this seem to be ok and why does a payout after the sad death of a CEO seem to be ok in your opinion? Questioning a payout is not derogatory in any way, it is simply responsible.
Murray
Posted on 19-03-2013 12:03 | By YOGI
I agree that there is no issue about anything Ken did, sadly the one saying "keep it all secret" is the ring leader of the ones needing all of this to remain secret. Also sadly the issue does need to come out and be dealt with on one soide in respect to Ken, on the other side to show up those who did what they should not have so also all can see what these people are really about.
Mayor Crosby explanations
Posted on 19-03-2013 20:51 | By PLONKER
Seems that he has disclosed and so dug the hole here, saying that "Ken is not here to defend himself ..." is just an attempt to divert attention from the real menace here. The comments are very unfair and loaded for sure, Mayor Crosby is himself lifting the lid on this and then chastise others for having been asked a question. This is all about face but certianly shows that the rabbit warren is deep and convoluted.
A SORRY TALE AT BEST
Posted on 19-03-2013 20:54 | By POCO O POCO
If the public knew the full story they would be appalled by the goings on and some heads would be on the block. October might be a good time to pike them a la Oliver Cromwell style.TCC are lucky they didn't wear it between the eyes.
Phailed
Posted on 21-03-2013 00:02 | By TERMITE
To start with I have no question about "how much", first I want to know why a secret deal was done and then what the reasons are that need a secret deal, once known I would then decide if the payment is justified. By what I am aware of and what POCO POCO hints at would be reasonable that money is paid to Ken's family in the circumstances. The real question is about who should be paying, this will be yet another handout to protect the seat warmers at TCC and then you need to add the huge legal bills that were found necessary to complete the coverup.
Ken was a good bloke
Posted on 21-03-2013 00:56 | By TERMITE
He does not deserve Mayor Crosby's comments or the implicaiton of them at all, very nasty very sad to see this happen. Now that Mayor Crosby has changed which foot is in the mouth perhaps he should come clean on it and clarify what exactly the money was for? When he does that will mean that Ken of course will be cleared of everything and anything but a bit of 'soil' will be stuck elsewhere by the dozen.
Cover up for the old boys
Posted on 21-03-2013 18:43 | By TERMITE
So as the seat warmers can stay put they had to mastermind the conclusion to the plan, because "dead men don't speak" plan B was swiftly created and implemented to cover up and close down any possible leaks and personal damage to the perpetrators
Where thewre is smoke there is alwaysfire
Posted on 22-03-2013 09:41 | By RORTSCAM
Do you know that TCC Council administration is in lock down mode and staff directed not to comment on any matter concerning the late Ken Paterson.No doubt Councillors will have received the same directive.Have lawyers been involved in this or something ? and who in the TCC organisation made this judgment call.TCC Ratepayers who are forking out the 'hush'money are entitled to know how much was paid where the payment was made from, who authorised it and what category the payment comes under.Frankly the place looks like a dysfunctional fear pit and I bet people just love working in that environment !!
SMOKIN!
Posted on 25-03-2013 08:36 | By YOGI
Yes thre is plenty of smoke billowing out of this one, it is a duzzy! The fire is an inferno, we have not seen the last of this yet.
$1.3 million and counting
Posted on 26-03-2013 17:46 | By YOGI
Looks liek a heap of handouts from many quarters to many, the interesting part is where teh majority are paid from and why, there is a pattern here of behaviour that causes these things and there is a pattern of behaviour that is used to carry out settlement. This prociess is like it should be but is not at all pleasant to the instigators ... result the ratepayer cheque book is used to beat all comers into submission and they do.
Money gone where?
Posted on 27-03-2013 22:25 | By PLONKER
These types of decisions are not the cause, they are at the bottom of the cliff and are the result of bad behaviour from prior to that.
Look at the survivors for the answers
Posted on 28-03-2013 21:22 | By EYESPY
Ex Ceo Ken Paterson was the good guy in all of this and would have sorted out the less than pleasant odious TCC culture quick smart given time. That is why plain and simple there was a 'peasants revolt' among the cabal rif et raf due for the chop.
The money
Posted on 29-03-2013 20:19 | By PLONKER
The answer is easy here, when you are wanting to know why then just follow the money, in this case we know where it went to, so to find the other half of the story just look for where it came from and the answer will be obvius about why.
But from what ?
Posted on 31-03-2013 02:18 | By Crash test dummies
But perhaps the real question is from whom? Look at these facts: TCC paid money, kens widow recieved the money, ken had a lawyer involved in it, ken worked for TCC as an employee, Mayor Crosby said that the payment was not a golden hand shake ..., he also said best not to reveal anything (ops to late) cos ken could not defend himself ... What he really means is tbat Stubhas not got a clue of how to explain away this one.
Money is paid?
Posted on 04-04-2013 02:11 | By TERMITE
Ken's widow got it. But who was being protected by the payment being made from rates money?
They have to tell us
Posted on 08-04-2013 20:05 | By PLONKER
They seemed happy enough to say what the salary of the CEO was, the bonuses for Stephen Town and a lot more previously, so why not say what this was all about?
Why did MY rates money get spent?
Posted on 10-04-2013 15:26 | By YOGI
I have every right to know that, the where/when/why and who. anything less is not acceptable.
I know what you did last summer ...
Posted on 13-04-2013 11:32 | By PLONKER
Interesting letter yesterday in the paper, looks like a head-to-head is coming our way soon.
Storm in a teacup guys
Posted on 15-04-2013 07:57 | By Papamoaner
It's peanuts. There are bigger wastages to argue about, like $0.2 million written off and still no tsunami sirens on the horizon.
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