Council expenses ‘reasonable’

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 17, 2008

Lumby’s mayor doesn’t anticipate taxpayers being upset over how council spent money last year. The village’s 2007 annual report includes remuneration and expenses for all five members of council. “They were very reasonable,” said Mayor Eric Foster. Foster had expenses of $6,283 last year, and he says that is a result of attending conferences, as well as a phone and vehicle allowance. “You run a vehicle and it costs a lot these days,” he said. Among the conferences Foster attended was the Union of B.C. Municipalities, and he insists such venues are an important way to meet with provincial government officials and lobby for funding for infrastructure projects. “If you’re not there, you don’t get anything,” he said. Leading the councillors in expenses was Deb Leroux who had expenditures of $5,668. “I go to a lot of functions and workshops because I believe in education. There is value for my community in everything I learn,” she said. “There is a lot of value in networking with other communities. There is tons of knowledge out there from the experiences other people have gained in their communities.” Matt McLenehan had expenses of $43 while it was $5,727 for Elinor Turrill and $1,017 for Ben Winters. All councillors collected a base salary of $5,727 in 2007, while Foster earned $10,934 for his duties as mayor. Municipalities, each year, must also detail remuneration and expenses for all employees, and individually identify those earning more than $75,000. The village only has one employee making more than that and that is chief administrator Frank Kosa at $78,585. He also had expenses of $4,761. A total of $787,406 was spent on employment income last year, while there was $12,796 in expenses for all staff.