Wayne Moore - Feb 2, 2010 / 5:00 am Castanet:
West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater was granted a raise of nearly $3,000 Monday, however he wasn't around to hear the news. Findlater excused himself from chambers and passed the gavel to acting mayor Gord Milsom, stating a conflict of interest. A staff report called for a raise of 4.75% for the mayor and .75% for each of the six councillors. "It is a lopsided result which is uncomfortable for me," Findlater told councillors in stating his reasons for excusing himself from the meeting. "I should not be seated here because I have a pecuniary interest."
A report on councillor remuneration is presented to council once a year in accordance with a policy set out by the previous council in August, 2008. According to the policy, the Mayor and Councillors are paid according to the median paid to councils in six similarly-sized B.C. municipalities, including Langley, Port Moody, North Cowichan, Vernon, Penticton and Campbell River. The report suggested a pay raise of $2,762 (to $60,853) for the mayor and a raise of just $153 (to $20,654) for each of the six councillors. The raise is automatic and does not require a vote of council, however, it can be rescinded or amended on council's approval.
Councillor Rosalind Neis made several motions in an attempt to get the raises eliminated or to have the policy amended. None of those motions received a seconder. "The mayor does a great job and receives a good salary here. He also receives a salary from the Regional District," says Neis. She also suggested Findlater receives a salary as a director with Interior Savings Credit Union, a position she claimed he said he would leave once becoming mayor. "He does not need this. I don't feel comfortable getting an increase and no one else should either." Neis also suggested that council approve a 2% pay hike across the board. Councillor David Knowles was willing to second the motion, however, it received no further support. "It would be easy for us to take the high road, which in this case would be to approve no pay raise for anyone," says Councillor Bryden Winsby. "We owe it to our taxpayers to investigate who gets paid for what. We need to follow the policy. It shows leadership and backbone." Winsby suggested that the mayor and council started with a very low remuneration when the municipality was first established.
West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater was granted a raise of nearly $3,000 Monday, however he wasn't around to hear the news. Findlater excused himself from chambers and passed the gavel to acting mayor Gord Milsom, stating a conflict of interest. A staff report called for a raise of 4.75% for the mayor and .75% for each of the six councillors. "It is a lopsided result which is uncomfortable for me," Findlater told councillors in stating his reasons for excusing himself from the meeting. "I should not be seated here because I have a pecuniary interest."
A report on councillor remuneration is presented to council once a year in accordance with a policy set out by the previous council in August, 2008. According to the policy, the Mayor and Councillors are paid according to the median paid to councils in six similarly-sized B.C. municipalities, including Langley, Port Moody, North Cowichan, Vernon, Penticton and Campbell River. The report suggested a pay raise of $2,762 (to $60,853) for the mayor and a raise of just $153 (to $20,654) for each of the six councillors. The raise is automatic and does not require a vote of council, however, it can be rescinded or amended on council's approval.
Councillor Rosalind Neis made several motions in an attempt to get the raises eliminated or to have the policy amended. None of those motions received a seconder. "The mayor does a great job and receives a good salary here. He also receives a salary from the Regional District," says Neis. She also suggested Findlater receives a salary as a director with Interior Savings Credit Union, a position she claimed he said he would leave once becoming mayor. "He does not need this. I don't feel comfortable getting an increase and no one else should either." Neis also suggested that council approve a 2% pay hike across the board. Councillor David Knowles was willing to second the motion, however, it received no further support. "It would be easy for us to take the high road, which in this case would be to approve no pay raise for anyone," says Councillor Bryden Winsby. "We owe it to our taxpayers to investigate who gets paid for what. We need to follow the policy. It shows leadership and backbone." Winsby suggested that the mayor and council started with a very low remuneration when the municipality was first established.
1 comment:
Wonder who else is gonna get a 4.75% increase this year? Oh, that's right, the fatcats on staff that recommended this pay increase for their boss. Hmmmmmmm, quite a system ya got goin there folks.
Too bad it's all taxpayer money. If some were hidden and private, that'd sure be sweet.
Line up at the trough, boys.
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