OLDS — If you’d like to have some input in determining remuneration (compensation for service) that town council members receive, now is your chance.
The town is looking for citizens to volunteer to sit on the Ad Hoc Citizens Committee on Council Compensation.
Advertisements for that opportunity are being placed in print and other media as well as on the town’s website and social media platforms.
Administrative staff will vet all applicants from the public and suggest names for committee members to council.
The committee is expected to be in place by March 1.
Once the committee has been formed, its job is to research and compare the compensation and benefits such as parental leave that councillors receive to those that comparable communities provide to their councillors.
One question that will be posed is whether members of council should be considered full-time councillors, given their time commitment, responsibilities and workload.
Council members may be asked to attend interviews with the committee as it conducts its research.
The committee is expected to report its recommendations within 90 days. Council then has 30 days to accept, reject or modify the recommendations.
The new policy on honouraria and benefits will be in effect once the next town council is elected.
The next municipal election is slated for Oct. 20, 2025.
