Mayor gets fund

Salmon Arm Observer Published: March 10, 2009

City councillors will be opting out of a national conference this year, but the mayor gets some extra cash after council remuneration and expense accounts were agreed upon Jan. 26. Manager of financial services Chris Holman said bylaw changes are being added to allow for Mayor Marty Bootsma’s attendance at day seminars and events. The added bylaw clause creates a $3,000 discretionary fund to allow the mayor to attend day functions without coming to city council for approval. At council meetings on the budget process, Bootsma said he finds it awkward to come to council every time he’s going somewhere. “I feel the mayor should have a little discretion in attending some functions.” Coun. Alan Harrison said he supported the change to allow the mayor to attend day functions without council approval. Council removed any money for councillors to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference this year. After a reduction of $10,650, council has $61,500 available for expenses in 2009. The amount includes allocations for life and health benefits for mayor and council. In 2007, the city set aside $43,082 for council expenses. Benefits accounted for $12,661. Remuneration for the positions is at $44,799.96 for the mayor and $15,000 for council members. This amount has remained constant in 2007 and 2008.