Councillor Karina Green could surely get someone else to do the school pick-up run for the few meetings she needs to attend. We, the ratepayers, are paying her $70,000 after all.

As ratepayers, we contribute nearly $1 million a year towards the salaries of our 12 Hamilton city councillors and, right now, we are being ripped off.

Let me give you an example. On May 26, the council's most important committee, its strategy and policy committee, met. But only just. In fact, because of poor attendances and, ultimately, the inability to get a quorum, the committee – which comprises all 13 members of the council – couldn't finish its meeting and had to defer two items to its next meeting in six weeks.

I can't remember this occurring at a meeting in my time and I'm not sure it has ever happened before. The strategy and policy committee meeting started at 1.30pm and apologies were put in for Ewan Wilson and for Rob Pascoe, who was attending an event on behalf of the council.

Mayor Julie Hardaker and Martin Gallagher were a little late – which, provided you put in an apology, is not too serious.

What is not so acceptable are the constant defections during many meetings. This one was no different. Karina Green headed off for her usual school pick-up at 2.40, followed an hour or so later by Garry Mallett and Margaret Forsyth.

Numbers around the table were down to eight, one above what is needed to keep the meeting going. Shortly before 5pm, Mayor Hardaker had to leave the meeting for a few minutes. They were down to seven.

Deputy Mayor Gordon Chesterman complained to strategic and policy chairwoman Angela O'Leary about Macpherson's actions and he came back in, about the same time the mayor returned. The meeting resumed until about 5.30, when Chesterman had to leave momentarily. During this period, Macpherson made apologies to leave the meeting. With two items left on the agenda, the meeting had to close prematurely. Chesterman returned a few minutes later to a nearly empty room.

The reason I bring up this debacle is because it brings to a head a problem which has been brewing throughout the year. These councillors are earning salaries of about $70,000 and I think some of them are taking the piss. I looked at other major committee attendances this year and the reading is disturbing.

According to minutes, at the April 23 finance committee meeting, Forsyth, Andrew King and O'Leary made apologies while Green and Mallet made their customary early departures. Macpherson – who we should cut some slack as he had a family tragedy – was absent from the April 8 strategy and policy meeting while Chesterman, Gallagher and Wilson were late. Green and Macpherson missed the March 26 full council meeting, while Green also missed a February 26 council meeting, along with councillors O'Leary and Pascoe. Councillors Gallagher, Macpherson and Mallett were late for the February 25 extraordinary council meeting and Macpherson missed the strategic and policy meeting on February 24, while Gallagher and Green were late. At the finance committee meeting on February 19, Philip Yeung was absent while Mallett and Forsyth left early.

Meetings don't come around very often – it is a six week cycle. It's hard to believe councillors can't get someone else to do a school pick-up once in a while – many of us have to do it on a weekly or even daily basis. I don't like to pick on people, but it's well known within the council that councillor Green isn't pulling her weight. She says virtually nothing in meetings and recently her attendances have been sporadic. At a recent meeting, as she took her seat, one councillor was heard to mutter "Who's that woman sitting next to Garry Mallett?" I understand if she's overawed and struggling to impose herself, but she should at least turn up.

Formal meetings are one thing, but they only give part of the picture. Councillors' attendance at other engagements, such as community events or civic receptions, has fallen to embarrassing proportions. Local Government chief executive Malcolm Alexander recently came to Hamilton to brief councillors on a new initiative. Only six members of the council turned up. Six out of 13. That's just a disgrace. I understand that some members of the council may feel dissatisfied or marginalised. But this occurs in every council and it's not our problem. Ultimately, the councillors are not in the job for themselves, but to serve the city and the ratepayers – many of whom are doing full-time jobs for less money. Some of these councillors need to sharpen up and decide if they really want to do the job. If not, they should do the right thing and get out.

Geoff@geofftaylorcoms.nz