October 13, 2015 3:00pm by David Farrar

I’m okay with this

A gang member will be paid $37 an hour and forbidden to wear gang regalia as part of a Dunedin City Council weed control contract.

The council was praised after signing a social procurement contract with Mauri Kohatu Incorporated on October 5.

As part of that contract, Black Power member Albert Epere would control weeds, litter and maintain paths at six Dunedin sites until June 30, 2016

A copy reveals the $52,000 plus GST contract was based on a 30-hour working week with a fee schedule of $37 an hour.

A breakdown of that hourly rate includes a labour unit rate of $25 an hour and operational costs of $12 an hour.

Those operational expenses include maintenance costs, fuel, rent, power, communications, IT and compliance costs.

Under a section called “Public relations”, it was noted “the council requires its staff to maintain high standards of the conduct and courtesy in all dealings with the public, and contractor’s staff are required to maintain similar high standard whilst working under this contract”.

“Contractors and contractors’ staff are not permitted to wear gang patches/regalia when carrying out work for the council.”

Rates would be reviewed after six months of contract completion, the contract said.