Coldstream politicians will be pocketing a pay raise, but not for a few years. “It only takes effect in 2012,” said Coun. Gyula Kiss, meaning that the raise will apply to the council voted in after the November 2011 election. The council of the day has decided not to give themselves a raise, but to ensure the future council gets it. “This council decided we knew what we were getting when we were elected so we decided not to,” said Kiss. The future mayor will make $27,561 – Mayor Jim Garlick is currently paid approximately $24,000. The future council will make $10,924 – Kiss made $10,332 in 2010. The raise is effective Jan. 1, 2012 and raises to remuneration will continue to be increased each year following. Council members also receive $131.68 for attending NORD, Okanagan Regional Library and any other meetings authorized by council. That number is unchanged, said Kiss.
Bureaucracy has bumped a council veteran out of his area of expertise, but there are no hard feelings. Gyula Kiss has sat on the Okanagan Basin Water Board for eight years, and even though changes have forced him out, he’s not heartbroken. “It’s OK, I’ve been there long enough,” said Kiss, a Coldstream councillor who has always been keen on water issues. Changes at the North Okanagan Regional District have been made so that alternate directors at NORD cannot sit on the OBWB. Since Mayor Jim Garlick has requested to be a director at NORD, he will fill Kiss’ position at the OBWB. Kiss is comfortable with Garlick taking his seat. “You have to have people who are actually interested in the position.” Meanwhile a couple of other Coldstream councillors are stepping out of their positions on another committee. Coldstream’s environmental advisory committee will now include councillors Pat Cochrane and Richard Enns since Maria Besso and Bill Firman have left the committee. “I am no longer interested in serving on the environmental committee,” said Firman. “In fact, I resign.” All other committee appointments for 2011 will remain the same.
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