In my article titled 'City Hall - Who controls whom', I wrote that legislation in the late 80s had changed the way regional, city and district councils operated.

The essence of that article was that once councillors had appointed their council's CEO, that officer then took over full control, including hiring and firing, of that council's bureaucracy.

I also wrote that CEOs decided, as far as councillors are concerned, who could talk to whom within their respective bureaucracies.

This prompted three of four councillors to contact me and tell me that here in Tauranga, CEO Stephen Town had adopted an open door policy, a policy which he had extended to included his management team.

New councillor, and ex mayor of the old Mt Borough Council, Wayne Moultrie, was particularly concerned about the impression my article had given.

"Since being elected to council last October I have never had the slightest doubt that I have unrestricted access to all management personnel," he said.

"I have often called on the CEO unannounced. His door has always been open. By that, I mean literally 'open'.

Other councillors confirmed CEO Town's approachability.

However, one councillor, who was less than keen to have his name bandied about, suggested not all councillors get the full story after they have passed through the open door. "I suspect we are not all treated equally, in this respect," that councillor said.

Another councillor pointed out the open door relationship between councillors and the CEO is only a privilege which the CEO has a perfect right to withdraw at any time.

However, it is good news that CEO Town so willingly applies this principal of open and unrestricted interchange between himself and the city's elected officers. And so it should be in a true open and transparent democracy.