PHOTO/FILE
Long-serving Masterton District Council [MDC] staffer David Hopman has been confirmed as the council’s new chief executive.
Hopman has been acting in the role of chief executive since July when former boss Kath Ross was assigned to a special project regarding the Future for Local Government Review.
In September, Ross resigned, following controversy over the council’s civic facility project. She apologised in June after she was caught on CCTV tearing down a poster for the Hands
Around the Town Hall protest, where more than 1000 people took a stand against the council’s proposed new civic centre.
Hopman has been offered the role of chief executive after several weeks of recruitment by agency JacksonStone and Partners. He has worked for MDC as its assets and operations manager for the past 12 years.
“A lot of people encouraged me to apply for the role,” Hopman said.
“Council is facing a period of change with the Government’s Three Waters Reform recently announced, and the Future For Local Government Review currently under way. I hope my experience and leadership will help steer council through the changes.’’
Hopman and his wife Lisa have lived in Wairarapa for 24 years.
Their children attended Masterton schools – with his twin boys following in his footsteps as engineers, while his daughter is studying arts at Victoria University in Wellington.
MDC was to formalise Hopman’s appointment to the role at yesterday’s extraordinary council meeting.
Other items on the agenda are the appointment of the civic facility quantity surveyor and the appointment of capital fundraiser for the civic facility.
Both these items are set to be discussed in public exclusion. — NZLDR
