Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 12, 2010 12:00 PM
Go to the most out-of-town meetings, have the highest travel expenses. Township of Spallumcheen chief financial officer Brian Freeman-Marsh has released his report on council remuneration and expenses which shows Coun. Dave Brew submitted the most in travel and conference expenses, $5,718.00. The figure was more than $2,000 ahead of Mayor Will Hansma ($3,651.50) and Coun. Todd York ($3,642.96). “I was surprised the number was so high, to be honest with you, but I’ll go with Brian’s numbers,” said Brew, who stated he attended four main conferences, including the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Vancouver, along with the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) gathering at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops. “I enjoy them all. Most of the costs are for travel and accommodation. All of the trips are approved by council.”
Brew calls the meetings beneficial for councillors and mayors. “You learn something at each,” he said. “Whether what you learn is implemented in the municipality is another question, but the conferences are very beneficial.” The township budgets $30,000 per year for mayor and council travel. The $12,300-plus surplus from 2009 is carried over into council’s surplus revenue. Coun. Janice Brown’s travel and conference tab was $3,107.59, while Coun. Andrew Casson’s was $1,504.57. Coun. Ralph Leyenhorst did not submit any travel or conference expenditures in 2009, same goes for Coun. Christine Fraser, who took office in December following the death of Coun. Lorna Bissell. Hansma topped the overall remuneration list with $22,184.11, the majority coming from his yearly pay of $18,822.32.Councillors Brown, Casson and York earned $9,324.52, Brew was slightly less at $9,196.64 due to statutory deductions, and Fraser made $765.75.
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