City of Powell River councillors extensively discussed council remuneration, voting on matters such as annual salary, parental leave and child care, extended health, dental and vision, and life insurance, plus death and dismemberment coverage.
At the December 3 committee of the whole meeting, council members voted on several recommendations for benefits and salary, following a report from staff on the matter.
City CAO Lisa Bhopalsingh told councillors that staff had come back with options requested by councillors at a previous meeting.
“We are really looking for direction on a number of items,” said Bhopalsingh. “There are a number of different options and what we are looking for from council is what you would like.”
Councillor Jim Palm said his position was that mayor and councillors are adequately compensated in terms of remuneration.
“I didn’t sign up to make a great deal of money,” said Palm. “It’s a service to the community and that’s why I’m here.
“As far as benefits, if you are retired, you are required to pay for your benefits, which I do. I would leave that alone. If any individual councillor wants benefits, it should be at their cost.”
He said he was interested in the report statement regarding an annual pass to Powell River Recreation Complex. He said there is no substantial cost for councillors to opt in.
Councillor Trina Isakson made a motion to include an annual pass to the recreation complex for councillors.
“We are using a service where there is not a direct individual cost, cash-wise to the city. It may get council to increase using the complex and to have a better understanding of the services that the community relies on.”
Councillors carried the motion unanimously.
Councillor Cindy Elliott then made a motion for remuneration to remain the same for 2025 and 2026, with an increase for 2027 of consumer price index, with a minimum of two and a maximum of four per cent.
Councillor Trina Isakson said council remuneration was a little above the average of some comparable communities.
“Each of us entered the job knowing what the salary was,” said Isakson. “Given the financial challenges that we are going into, it’s fair to hold the line. That being said, I would like us to keep pace after that time.”
Councillor and committee chair George Doubt said he didn’t think the current remuneration is preventing anyone from running for council.
“It’s a part-time job and you can’t expect it to be anything close to full time,” said Doubt. “Some people put more effort and time into it than others, but remuneration is good for what we do as city councillors. I didn’t run because of the dollar value of the job and I didn’t look into what the pay was until after I was elected.”
The motion carried unanimously.
Extended benefits
Isakson then put forward a motion for staff to include provisions for mayor and council enrolment in the city’s extended benefits plan, of which 100 per cent would be paid by the city, starting in November 2026, which is when the next council will begin serving. She said it should include options for voluntary withdrawal.
“This allows for people who are of working age, or perhaps are retired and didn’t have the benefit of paying into a plan when they were employed,” said Isakson. “It is important that council members have the opportunity to withdraw.”
Isakson said for future councils, it allows people who are still working and may have to draw back on their hours at their current job, possibly having to cut back on their benefits, to be covered.
Elliott put forward an amendment to the motion to include clarification that the councillors would join the city’s exempt staff extended health, dental and vision program. The amendment carried, with Palm opposed. Councillors then voted on Isakson's motion as amended, with Doubt and Palm opposed.
Isakson then made a motion that staff include provisions for reduction in remuneration for breaches of the city’s code of conduct. Councillor Cindy Elliott said her belief was that the motion was out of order because the committee was talking about a code of conduct that it does not yet have.
Doubt ruled the motion out of order.
Councillor Earl Almeida made a motion that staff bring back a parental leave and child care policy, in line with such a policy in City of New Westminster, and child care benefits similar to Prince George. Isakson made an amendment to strike child care benefits from Almeida’s motion. The amendment carried, with Palm opposed.
Council voted on the amended Almeida motion for a parental leave policy. The motion carried, with Palm and Doubt opposed.
Isakson then brought forward a motion that provisions in policy assure enough allowance for full council attendance at Union of British Columbia Municipalities and Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities conferences, with an added margin to allow for additional unplanned travel, and for one member of council to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference. The motion carried, with Palm opposed.
Isakson brought forward a motion that council expenses include provision for a modest host gift when staying for free with friends of family during conference travel, instead of staying in a hotel. Isakson proposed $50 nightly.
Elliott said she wanted to make an amendment to $50 per event. The amendment was defeated.
Palm made an amendment that the gift be $50 per night, to a maximum of $200. The amendment carried unanimously. The amended main motion was voted on and carried unanimously, so host gifts can be purchased at $50 per night, to a maximum of $200.
Isakson’s final motion was regarding family care, with provision for reasonable family care expenses incurred as a result of performing the duties of a councillor, to a maximum of 10 per cent of councillor annual remuneration, to start in November 2026. The motion carried, with Palm opposed.
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