NORD considers hearing the public’s opinion of pay

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 24, 2008

Future pay increases for North Okanagan Regional District politicians could partially rest in the hands of the public. On Thursday, NORD’s committee of the whole recommended that the regional district board establish a citizens’ committee to look at directors’ remuneration. “Especially in this day and age where the financial situation globally is melting faster than the polar ice caps, we need to take a responsible approach,” said Jerry Oglow, director for Armstrong and regional district chairman. Oglow’s goal is to establish a committee similar to the one in Vernon. In the city, three members of the public — including at least one former politician — are appointed to review council remuneration and make recommendations on any possible changes.

Vernon council received such a report Oct. 14 and while the majority of the committee recommended significant increases in pay, that was shot down by council. Instead, council remuneration will be tied to the cost of living. If NORD decides to establish a remuneration process, the committee’s recommendations won’t be binding. “The board would make the decision on whether it wants to follow the recommendation,” said Wayne Lippert, Vernon mayor and a city representative to NORD.

Lippert also suggests that any changes in NORD salaries come into effect after the 2011 election. “Then you wouldn’t be seen as voting on your own remuneration,” he said to his colleagues. The issue of remuneration arose recently because NORD has downgraded the former Greater Vernon and electoral area commissions into advisory committees. While any authority has been stripped from those agencies, rural Lumby director Rick Fairbairn suggested that the chairmen of those two committees should still be paid $6,000 a year just as they were when they were commissions.

“The workload has not decreased,” said Fairbairn, who is Electoral Area Advisory Committee chairman, at the time. However, Oglow took aim at that suggestion Thursday. “The development of committee agendas is largely an administrative responsibility. The responsibility of the committee chairs is not on one committee over another,” he said. Advisory committee chairmen within NORD are paid an extra $12 for their duties.