Councillor ousted for 'unethical' email post

A Hamilton City councillor member was removed from the statutory management committee yesterday for acting unethically.

Committee chairman John Gower successfully argued that councillor Ewan Wilson's decision to email an applicant about a decision not to grant an extended liquor licence three hours into Good Friday jeopardised the committee's integrity.

The council voted 8-4 to restructure the committee, effectively removing Mr Wilson from the board.

Mr Gower denied the move was personal and said it was "about a member trying to justify unethical behaviour".

He said Mr Wilson had breached good practice by commenting within the 10-day period, in which the applicant could appeal against the decision.

But Mr Wilson said Mr Gower's motivation was getting revenge.

He claimed Mr Gower was unhappy with his email to applicant Altitude bar owner Laurie Weake because he had accused the councillors of making "faith-based decisions".

In the email, he said there was a need for new forward-thinking councillors at the next election.

Mr Wilson said he had not breached the process but apologised anyway.

It was not an offence which justified his removal from the committee, but he would "happily live with the council's decision".

"But I do leave you with this question, is this really about transparency and due process or is it not more a chapter from Silence of the Lambs - 'revenge is best served cold'?"

Mr Wilson's supporters - councillor Dave Macpherson, Angela O'Leary and Martin Gallagher - said the action was too extreme and did not follow due process.

Mr Macpherson accused Mr Gower of pussy-footing around by hiding behind a restructure when the main aim was to remove Mr Wilson from the committee.

Councillor Pippa Mahood supported the move and in her argument - during which she she was stopped three times for giving incorrect information - said Mr Wilson's actions had "offended the reputation of the committee".

Councillor Peter Bos declared a conflict of interest because his son was married to the daughter of the liquor licensing applicant, and did not participate in the discussion.