Honourariums scrutinized

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Nov 15 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Appointees to a City of Vernon committee could be financially cut off. Council received the proposed 2007/08 budget for the Vernon Land Corporation on Tuesday, including $30,000 in honourariums for five directors. The document will now be considered as part of the city’s overall budget process, but Coun. Barry Beardsell says he will not support anything that includes payments to directors. “What the land corporation is doing is great but honourariums are not appropriate,” he said. The corporation oversees the city’s land holdings, including both selling and purchasing property. Beardsell believes the honourarium situation is unfair to members of the Vernon Airport Corporation, who aren’t paid. “We have a multitude of other commissions and hard-working volunteers the same as the land corporation,” he said. The reason behind the honourariums was the land corporation directors were having to do a lot of work without the assistance of support staff. “Now that they are looking at having a staff person, that changes things,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert of the need for honourariums. While he can’t speak for other directors, land corporation chairman Jack Borden says he would not resign if the honourarium is cancelled. “I’m not serving the corporation for the money,” he said. “None of the directors are there for the honourariums but they’ve (payment) been there from day one.” Borden points out that the honourariums were established by the previous council. Among the duties of the directors has been meeting with potential land purchasers and negotiating deals. And Borden doesn’t see that changing even if a manager is hired. “I don’t envision a case where we turn a manager loose on negotiations. Some things can’t be delegated,” he said. Beyond the honourariums, Coun. Juliette Cunningham expressed concern about the corporation. “So many questions arise about the land corporation and we need to be clear in our own minds of the net benefit,” she said. Borden links the public apprehension about the corporation because land negotiations are confidential. “Because everything we do is in-camera, it’s hard to defend our actions in the public,” he said.