City of Powell River Council has adopted its remuneration bylaw. At a special meeting of city council on February 27, council gave final reading to the bylaw, which sets up remuneration, plus allowances for health and wellness, family care and parental leave.
Councillor Trina Isakson said she had a question for staff that had come up in an email related to the benefits part of the policy. She said there was a question as to what it encompasses.
“My understanding was that it was related to health benefits, for example, dental, eye care or physiotherapy, and that it doesn’t include things like sick leave and short-term disability, et cetera,” said Isakson. She asked for clarification of whether sick leave and disability are included in these benefits.
Deputy corporate office Jessica Walls said the sick leave benefits that city staff receive would not apply to members of council, because they are not employees.
“They are not entitled to that [sick leave and disability] as the bylaw also states that members of council also get 100 per cent of their remuneration while on a leave,” said Walls. “Councillors would receive the health care, the vision and dental – those benefits.”
Mayor Ron Woznow asked if there was any municipality in British Columbia of a comparable size to Powell River that has a similar bylaw.
Walls said the bylaw has similarities with other municipalities. She said she would have to look up all the remuneration bylaws of all other municipalities similar in size to Powell River to see if the bylaws are similar to the one before council. She said she did not have that information on hand.
Woznow said from his own research, there are no other municipalities of Powell River’s size offering the kind of package that council was considering.
“I will continue to oppose this motion,” added Woznow.
Councillor Jim Palm said he was glad to see the matter on the agenda for the meeting.
“Just for clarity, I think I made the motion to hold council’s remuneration at its present level throughout the remainder of this term,” said Palm. “I had no intent other than that, and it certainly wasn’t to weigh in on a future council’s prerogative in terms of remuneration. It sets a bar of two to four per cent for the next term. The next council can rescind this or do whatever it wants.
“With the rest of the motion before us, I’m sure they will be revisiting this when it comes forward. It is crystal clear to me that to do this job properly, you need to be here. I’m speaking against this motion. This is against every bone in my body in terms of the staff time that has gone into this, when we are busy with much bigger items this term. This should not have been on our table today.”
Council voted five to two in favour of adoption, with Woznow and Palm opposed.
According to the bylaw, mayor and council will be paid an annual remuneration of $60,600 and $31,800 respectively, through to the end of the term in October 2026. From 2027 onward, the bylaw stipulates annual increases based on the Statistics Canada consumer price index, with a minimum increase of two per cent and a maximum increase of four per cent each year.
Under health and wellness, commencing November 2026, members of council shall be eligible to enroll in the exempt staff extended heath care benefits plan, covered 100 per cent by the city. Enrolment is optional.
As of January 2025, mayor and councillors will be given a single annual pass to Powell River Recreation Complex for the duration of their terms.
Under family care, beginning in November 2026, all members of council shall be eligible for reimbursement of family care costs, to a maximum of $40 per day, to a maximum of 10 per cent of annual remuneration.
Councillors will also be eligible for parental leave.
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