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Council pay change explained

Dear Editor:

Rimbey town council recently made some changes to the remuneration and reimbursement policies that govern the salaries and hourly rates of council, as well as the expenses that councillors and town employees may claim.

I heard many rumours about these policies so I decided to find the facts. This is public information that is on town’s website, however, it is not easy to find. I had to browse through council meeting minutes to find the documents required then phone the town office to confirm that I was looking at the correct information.

I will list some points that I feel are most notable:

• Monthly salaries now cover all committee meetings and local meetings. Previously, attendance at these meetings was billed hourly.

• The mayor’s monthly salary ($1553.55) did not change; he is no longer provided with a cell phone.

• The councillors’ monthly salary increased by $31.07 to $1066.77; the deputy mayor now receives an additional $100 per month.

• The health spending account was reduced from $300 to $200 per councillor per month.

• All council members receive the same hourly rate ($30) for billable time, to a maximum of 10 hours per day. Previously, the mayor received $36.25 while councillors received $30.45. There was a two-hour minimum per meeting and an eight-hour maximum per day, which was bumped up to after six hours.

• Council may continue to claim time for special council meetings (ex. budget meetings), but not for “events staged by the Town of Rimbey” (ex. the parade).

• Council may now bill time for “Any other meetings or attendance at functions approved by resolution of Council.”

• The new policy requires council as a whole to approve councillors’ time sheets. Previously, this job was given to the council’s only employee, the CAO.

• The reimbursement policy no longer holds double standards. In the past, there were expenses that council could claim, but not other town employees.

• Council may no longer claim expenses for spousal accompaniment.

• Council may no longer claim alcohol as an expense.

• Council may not charge the town for time spent at a meeting where the other organization pays for their time.

I have created a table that compares the old and new policies and shows if the new policy follows the recommendations of the remuneration committee.

You can find it at www.rimbeyratepayers.ab.ca under the “Issues” tab.

Jody Blackmore