16 Sep 2009

Warning for council boss charged with drink-driving

9:39 pm on 16 September 2009

Invercargill City Council has issued its chief executive with his first and final written warning following a drink-driving charge.

Richard King was charged after a car crash in the Sourthland city in August.

Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt says the charge equates to serious misconduct under Mr King's contract and he has brought the council into disrepute.

Mr Shadbolt says a final written warning is the highest sanction the council can impose, short of dismissing Mr King.

He says all costs resulting from the accident will be met by Mr King, who earned more than $240,000 in the year to June 2008.

Mr Shadbolt says the chief executive's 23-year employment with the council was blemish-free until now, and the incident may affect his next performance review.