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Saluting our firefighters P. 12-13
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Smart meters arrive: P. 5
Council phases in pay raise
He’s got it pegged
Increases to be spread out over three-year period Matthew Peterson THE CHRONICLE
Ladysmith council has voted for a pay raise to be staggered over the next three years. The increase will mean by Jan. 1, 2014, the Mayor of Ladysmith will be making $24,172 per year and councillors will be making $12,470 per year. The increase comes after a panel of three community members — Rollie Rose, former mayor, Peter Richmond, business owner, and Niomi Pearson, local reporter — were assigned to look at council pay and how it compares to similar municipalities across B.C. The average figures were taken from the UBCM databank. Coun. Bruce Whittington asked what impact the increase will have on the average household. City Manager Ruth Malli said the increases will amount to $1.24 per household in the first year. Whittington also asked if the communities evaluated were up to date, or if the town is playing catch up to other towns also trying to catch up. He was told the statistics were pulled from the UBCM bank and is current, but it is hard to tell if other councils are looking at pay increases. Whittington brought up the subject of council pay back in July, noting it is a hard subject to talk about and added no council wants to be seen as giving themselves a raise. That is why he wanted it done now to take effect for the next council, that will be voted in on November 19. The panel pointed out that the last review of pay was in 2004 and since that time, Ladysmith council has fallen behind on remuneration and an adjustment was in order. The town has grown around 16 per cent in population since the last review. Jack Hoebee advances one of his team’s pegs during a cribbage session at the Ladysmith Seniors’ Centre on Thursday, Oct. 6. See Increase Page 3
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