OLDS — Although a board of directors has been announced for the newly-created municipally-controlled corporation (MCC) overseeing the assets of Olds Fibre Ltd. and O-NET, that board is only a temporary one, town officials say.
“The current board of directors whom are serving on the MCC board are of temporary status. It is the intent to have a mixture of both council and public-at-large members serving on this board in the future,” acting chief administrative officer and finance director Sheena Linderman wrote in an email.
That new board is expected to be created after the Oct. 18 municipal election.
O-NET, created by the community years ago, provides high-speed internet as well as phone and TV service.
As of Oct. 1, the assets of Olds Fibre which had O-NET under its wing, were officially absorbed by the MCC.
The MCC's board of directors – all existing town councillors – currently consists of Muzychka as chair, and town councillors Mary Jane Harper as vice-chair as well as directors Wanda Blatz, Mary Anne Overwater, Heather Ryan, Debbie Bennett.
Some members of the public have raised concern that as board members, those councillors will receive monetary compensation for serving on that board.
In her email, Linderman said that’s not true.
“To provide clarification, members of the MCC board of directors do not receive any monetary compensation for serving as a member of the MCC board," she wrote.
However, Linderman said the MCC board falls under the umbrella of the town’s authorities, boards, commissions and committees (A,B,Cs).
“When conducting business or attending meetings of any of the town’s A,B,Cs, elected officials are eligible to receive a per diem rate," she wrote.
Per diem rates of pay are per-day payments for costs incurred or duties performed. Per diem is Latin for "per day."
“For clarity, the MCC board is no different than any of the town’s other A,B,Cs, and a per diem rate would apply," Linderman added.
For a list of the Town’s A,B,Cs, visit: https://www.olds.ca/council/authorities-boards-commissions-committees.
