OLDS — After several discussions over most of the year, town council has approved a remuneration policy (compensation for serving on council) to come into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Council made that decision during its Sept. 9 meeting.
Under the newly approved policy, the mayor will receive compensation “equal to” $58,658 and councillors will receive compensation “equal to” $38,524.
In every budget year, council’s remuneration will be adjusted, based on increases in the Alberta Consumer Price Index. However, the policy says it will not be greater than the cost-of-living allowance awarded to town staff.
Coun. Darren Wilson raised the issue way back in mid-February when he presented a notice of motion for administrative staff to investigate the possibility of council being paid by salary.
When council discussed remuneration back in July, a briefing note from administrative staff said, “There is no budgetary impact to switching to a salary model. There would be minimal administrative effort in making this change.”
In mid-May, council received a report from a citizens’ committee tasked with making recommendations on council remuneration.
One of those recommendations was that council should continue to receive per diems (daily payments) “for required attendance as an official representative outside of the town of Olds.” The recommendation was that those per diems should be updated to reflect current costs.
However, the new policy says councillors are “not eligible” for per diems.
The policy does say councillors, including the mayor, are eligible to receive compensation for costs incurred attending various conventions, seminars, forums, and training.
That includes Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Alberta Municipalities (AM) annual conventions and other educational or professional development conferences.
However, the policy also says “council shall review attendance at the FCM convention on an annual basis.”
Councillors also agreed to have their remuneration posted on the municipality's website.
When the matter came up for discussion during the Sept. 9 meeting, Coun. Heather Ryan said, “I have no problem with how this is presented. The policy seems sound and perhaps the next council that comes into these seats might change it anyway.
“My only comment to make would be that I find it a shame that it went this route and the fact that all the work that was done by the remuneration committee has gone by the wayside.
“But I want to thank that committee in particular, because it’s a committee made up of residents” and “I appreciate their willingness to serve on that committee.”
Coun. Dan Daley said his desire was to ensure the policy provides transparency “so our citizens can see and be aware of what is happening here in council, not only in these sessions, but also in the boards and commissions,” and he’s confident it does, the way it’s now worded.
Coun. James Cummings said it might be “challenging” to post some information because some boards or commissions meet at different times than others.
He suggested that councillors report when they’ve attended those meetings to administrative staff and that staff post that when they get that information, rather than trying to report all remuneration at the same time.
“I’m certain our director of corporate services, Sheena (Linderman), can make that happen,” mayor Judy Dahl said. “As long as she gets the information, she definitely has the ability to record it properly.”
Daley thanked his fellow council members for “coming up with the solution so quick and with so few words.”
