Powell River Regional District directors have unanimously passed a bylaw stipulating rates of remuneration for the current term of office.
At their Thursday, May 28, board meeting, directors gave three readings and passage to Directors Remuneration and Expenses Amendment Bylaw No. 422.6, 2015, which sets annual indemnities, plus payments for attendance at meetings for the four years of their term, which began in November 2014.
After a civic election, legislation allows the directors to set a one-time increase in their indemnity, and after the first year, a cost of living increase is calculated. Based on a consultant’s report, the bump to the annual indemnity will be 16 per cent over that which was paid for the previous three-year term.
The annual indemnity for a regional director appointed by the City of Powell River is $7,902, the five electoral area directors will receive $11,072, and there will be an additional premium of $1,829 for the Lasqueti Island director, who has travel to Powell River for board meetings to factor in. The regional board chair will be paid an additional indemnity of $7,959 for his responsibilities.
An objection to the increase was expressed from Lasqueti Island resident Peter Johnston, whose letter regarding the increases was received by the board prior to adoption of the bylaw.
Johnston said: “I want you to know that I believe that serving in local government is to a huge degree community service, and that there should be some compensation, but I believe that it would be more seemly for you to be more reticent and modest in this regard. I ask that you postpone the decision, or if you don’t want to do that, then make the decision now, but make it effective with the next board, following the election in 2018.”
Johnston said directors each signed on for this term at the old rate of remuneration, and should be prepared to serve at that rate.
Colin Palmer, Electoral Area C director, said he’d like a letter to be written to Johnston, outlining regional board and regional hospital board directors’ responsibilities.
“The director for Lasqueti Island is responsible for five regional services, three shared services and seven local services,” Palmer said. “I did some rough numbers. When the director from Lasqueti Island comes here, he’s voting on upwards of $3.5 million worth of expenditure every year. He’s also been involved for six years voting on a $26.5-million project for the regional hospital board. He’s responsible for being knowledgeable for over $1.3 million in Community Works Funds so I think he’s worth something.”
Patrick Brabazon, regional district chair and Electoral Area A director, said the previous regional board, not the current one, initiated the examination of remuneration for directors.
The board carried a motion to send a letter to Johnston.
