Drumheller Mayor and Town Council will receive a three per cent pay increase retroactive to January 1, 2013.
Council approved the policy that incorporated the recommendations of the Remuneration Committee at Monday’s Town Council meeting.
The committee was appointed after the municipal election in October, and reported back to Council with the recommended increase, as well as a three per cent increase effective January 1, 2014, and a three point five per cent increase effective January 1, 2015. For their remaining terms of service, the Mayor and Council receive annual increases as per the negotiated Union Agreements for Local 4604 and Local 135, with an average between the two amounts if they vary.
The Committee findings state that the remuneration puts the Mayor and Council in line with other municipalities of a similar size.
The Committee also looked at compensation for Mayor and Council’s time and expenses they incur attending meetings, conferences and town-related business both at home and away.
The $250 per day per diem rate is now clarified as four continuous hours of meetings.
“We certainly appreciate the recommendations by the committee, who are trying to be as fair as possible, while still being accountable to taxpayers, as we are,” stated Councillor Jay Garbutt.
Former Councillor from 2010 to 2013 Doug Stanford disagrees with the review, and thinks it should be handled differently, with the previous council reviewing and approving any remuneration changes for the mayor or council before the election.
”When you go into elected office, you know what you’re getting ahead of time, that’s what you get.”
Stanford’s opinion is they make enough right now - not a bunch, but enough.
“When you go into that office, you shouldn’t be there for the money.”
Andrew Berdahl also served on Town Council, from 2007 to 2013.
“My initial response is the retroactive pay is probably necessary - three per cent is on par with both union and administration for the last few years.”
As for the three and half percent raise for 2015, Berdahl has looked at other contracts - provincial and otherwise - that he’s seen come in under the three point five.
Mayor Terry Yemen’s thoughts on the pay - “I’m happy with it. They looked at comparable communities and they compared size and budget, and we’re dead center. I think compensation for mayor is fair and compensation for councillors is light.”
