Alternate directors will be getting a raise

MONDAY, 13 JANUARY 2014 02:00 JOHN MOORHOUSE Penticton Herald
Alternate rural directors who get paid "next to nothing" by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen can expect a raise in 2014. The RDOS board has approved in principle a remuneration bylaw amendment which will allow alternate directors to be paid up to $162 a day in remuneration and expenses for attending community meetings on behalf of their regional director. Currently alternate directors are paid $73 a month, plus up to $219 per board meeting when filling in for the rural director. Tom Siddon, RDOS director for Okanagan Falls-Kaleden, said he simply can't attend all community meetings in his area and often must rely on his alternate. "It's not fair to ask them to do it for nothing," Siddon said. "Seventy dollars a month through the year is next to nothing." Allan Patton, director for the Oliver rural area, said most people would be surprised at the amount of work all directors must do. However, Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer noted most town council members make a lot less in remuneration than many directors with the RDOS. The regional district's corporate services committee voted 12-6 in favour of the pay raise for alternate directors, with Bauer, Naramata director Karla Kozakevich, Cawston director George Bush, Summerland director Bruce Hallquist and Penticton and Oliver council alternate directors Helena Konanz and David Mattes opposed. No board discussion was held on remuneration for regular RDOS directors. Rural directors are paid up to $1,689 a month in remuneration and expenses, while municipal directors receive up to $488 a month. RDOS chairman Mark Pendergraft makes an additional $2,533 a month in remuneration and expenses, while vice-chair Garry Litke gets paid an extra $461 monthly. All directors also receive up to $292 for attending a full day of board and committee meetings. The 18-member RDOS board automatically gets an annual cost-of-living increase.