(File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Town Remuneration

Battleford council talks raises for future council

Apr 10, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The town council have agreed to an administrative recommendation to change the renumeration policy to include yearly increases and council renumeration to coincide with the same yearly increase that is given to the CUPE Local 3003.

“It is the town’s policy that the…sitting council review the renumeration of council in the year of an election, which is this year,” said Mayor Ames Leslie in a follow-up interview, noting it would be set for the next four-year term.

He explained that up until this year, council always had an open discussion of whether a raise should be given and if so, how much.

“It’s always been a very awkward conversation because elected officials deciding on their own raise just seems a little bit hypocritical in the world of being prudent with spending taxpayers’ dollars,” said Leslie.

During Monday’s meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Landon Chambers said if it is council’s wish to change the policy, “public notice … will need to be given,” he added, noting there will also need to be debate in open session.

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Currently the mayoral monthly salary is $1,995 and councillors’ receive $810 per month and Leslie said the new council will get the yearly increases starting next January.

“We have to engage in conversations with the union within six months of the end of the contract, so probably Junish, Julyish – whenever the two groups can come together, we’ll probably commence negotiations for the next contract,” he said.

The council debated the merits on what should happen with the next group, but all agreed there should be some sort of raise.

“You can’t keep it the same, you have to move forward,” said Councillor David George.

“I think that there should be some little bits of inflation here and there,” added Councillor Alexis Christensen.

“I think regardless of what happens, like, I’d probably support some sort of an increase but, I would just say for the future council, there should be more defined roles so that it’s not so lopsided in terms of who’s in the know, or what’s happening or who’s being invited different places,” she added, noting it would feel more like a team.

Coucillor Shelley Boutin-Gervais expressed that she was there as service to her community, not the money and Councillor Judy Pruden added that she was in favour of moving ahead.

“Nobody does this for the money, that’s for sure,” Pruden said.

Meanwhile Leslie said during the meeting he believed the council should be compensated.

“To attract good people, I think you need to make sure that they’re owed for their time,” he said.

“I just want it to be something that’s equal to all the other employees in this town.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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