By TREENA MIELKE
After some debate over cellphone costs and health care issues, Rimbey town council voted at its regular meeting Feb. 23, to accept a new remuneration policy.
The package that includes wages and benefits for the mayor and council, sees the mayor being paid $1,553 per month and councillors $1,067 with the exception of the deputy mayor who is to receive an extra $100, puts Rimbey council at the top end of the pay scale of other communities of similar size.
Earl Giebelhaus, who sat on the remuneration policy committee, said wages and benefits of councils from 10 other communities were looked at by the committee before they came up with a recommendation.
Giebelhaus said the committee was comfortable with Rimbey council’s pay scale, but wanted to be sure additional expenses didn’t occur.
“We wanted to close all the loop holes so they can’t abuse the situation,”
These loop holes allowed the former mayor and council to rack up huge expenses, he noted.
Giebelhaus said according to the consolidated financial statements for the town as of Dec. 31, 2009, former mayor Dale Bar received $66,359 for wages and benefits. The wages and benefits for Coun. Wayne Clark were $23,775, Dave Huff, $21,929 and Dave Karroll was $22,083. The remaining councillors did not complete the three-year term prior to the fall election.
The remuneration policy adopted by council sees the mayor and council’s base fee to include regular monthly council meetings, all background work, general public interaction, in-town charity functions, local meetings, committee meetings and attendance to functions and gathering where the mayor or a councillor’s presence is requested, but not required.
Under the new policy, the mayor and council will be paid $30 per hour to a maximum of $300 per day for provincial government meetings, field trips and research trips to other municipalities, meetings associated with the University of Alberta or other meetings or functions approved by a resolution of council.
Compensation will not be provided for attendance at meetings or functions where expenses are paid by other organizations.
The new policy states Rimbey town council, staff, fire department members, boards and committees will receive up to $50 a day for meals when required to be out of town. Mileage shall be set at the per kilometre rate for Alberta according to Canada Revenue Agency.
Hotel accommodation will be covered upon receipt of the cost, however no receipt will be required for stay in private accommodations, but the expenses of the recipient will be covered for $50 per night.
Cost of living increases will automatically be applied to council remuneration and meeting rates as per town staff salaries, according to the Alberta Consumer Pricing Index, on Jan. 1 of every year.
Benefits, which also included a $200 per month health spending account, was met with opposition by councillors Joe Anglin and Jack Webb. A motion by Coun. Anglin to increase the amount to $300, the same amount as was provided to the previous council, was defeated 3-2.
A motion by Anglin to see the cellphone coverage of $50 for the mayor extended to the councillors was passed.
“My cellphone coverage has more than tripled because of this position,” he said.
However, Mayor Sheldon Ibbotson said he believes council is being paid well, compared to other municipalities of a similar size.
“We are at the top end of the pay scale even without health care or cellphones,” he said.