A West 麻豆精选 councillor is still unhappy that extended health benefits are part of a proposed new compensation package for council.
In June, a community task force recommended the mayor鈥檚 salary be raised from the current $76,203 to $88,240, and councillor salaries from $25,439 to $30,884.
The report also recommended optional extended health, dental, and employee family assistance benefits should be offered. The city would cover 100 per cent of the monthly premium for the mayor鈥檚 position and 50 per cent for councillors.
鈥淚 am absolutely opposed to the process of creeping benefits into the program,鈥� said Coun. Doug Findlater. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not that kind of job, it鈥檚 an honour to serve.鈥�
Findlater suggested that the province needs to look at compensation for municipal councils and come up with a framework. On the other side of the fence, Coun. Carol Zanon said she is in favour of benefits.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 a freebie,鈥� said Zanon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for those who don鈥檛 have a program elsewhere. This is fair and they are paying a portion of it.鈥�
Council gave unanimous three readings to proposed changes to the remuneration, expenses, and benefits bylaw.
Final approval is expected in the coming weeks, and the new compensation package would take effect Jan. 1, 2023.
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@GaryBarnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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