MD of Bonnyville council has approved amendments to its councillor remuneration policy, resulting in increased salaries for the Reeve, Deputy Reeve and councillors.

The changes were approved during the March 10 council meeting as part of updates to Policy C-1.010 – Councillor, Committee and Board Member Remuneration Policy.

According to council discussion and information provided in the municipality’s council highlights report, the amended policy also introduces a monthly honorarium for the Deputy Reeve, which had not previously been reflected in the policy.

 

Shift to salary system still causing confusion

Deputy Reeve Ben Fadeyiw told council that some residents believe councillors are paid both a salary and additional meeting pay, which he said is not the case.

“The phone calls I received was basically people are thinking we’re getting paid our salary plus the meetings and it’s not,” Fadeyiw said.

He explained the municipality moved from a per-meeting remuneration model to a salary structure about six years ago, which significantly reduced councillor earnings at the time.

“Before, council members on remuneration were getting between 80 and 100 plus per year and we brought that down to 50,” he said.

Under the old structure, councillors received a base amount along with payments for attending meetings and events. The salary system was introduced partly to avoid situations where councillors could increase earnings by attending additional meetings or conferences.

Meeting rates listed in the policy now apply only to public members appointed to boards and committees, not to council members themselves.

 

Salary adjustment intended to realign compensation

Fadeyiw said the current adjustment is intended to bring MD council pay closer to comparable municipalities.

He said council salaries were sitting around the 37th percentile among similar municipalities and the change would move the MD closer to the 60th percentile.

Councillor Josh Crick also addressed concerns he had heard from residents about council compensation, saying he had tracked his workload after being elected.

“I actually kept track of my hours after just after the election and it was right around 40 hours a week,” Crick said.

He added that councillors typically sit on multiple boards and committees, including organizations such as FCSS, housing boards, library boards and regional service commissions.

“It is a big time commitment,” he said.

Crick said he could understand arguments both for and against raising council salaries, but noted the need to compensate elected officials appropriately.

“You want good people in there, so you kind of have to compensate them appropriately.”

 

Debate included calls for transparency

Crick said he had heard from residents who wanted clearer information about how council pay is structured and presented in financial statements.

“I think maybe we can try and just be transparent,” he said.

He added that salary figures in audited financial statements can appear confusing because they are presented separately from benefits, travel reimbursements and allowances.

 

Policy approved by council

Despite some reservations expressed during discussion, council ultimately voted to adopt the amended remuneration policy as recommended by committee of the whole.

The changes include the salary adjustments for council members and additional clarity around how meeting rates apply to non-council board and committee members.