Council votes for pay raise

Charlottetown councillors have given themselves a hefty raise.

Quickly, without debate, city council voted Monday on a resolution to accept a report prepared by Peter Kelly on compensation. Kelly says in the report he met with councillors to ask them how much time they commit to the job.

“An extensive review of the compensation for council has not taken place in Charlottetown in the last four years,” says the report.

It’s time to see if the pay is in line with the work done and in line with other municipalities of similar size across Canada, it says. The report was completed last month.

The resolution to accept it passed nine to three with Councillors Edward Rice, Bob Doiron and Jason Coady voting against.

The report also gives all council members free smartphone packages and Internet access.

For retirement benefits, councillors can choose to join the city’s employee pension plan or get the same 12.25 per cent for a self-directed retirement plan.

Vehicle mileage will be the same as provincial government employees.

The report also says the future salary increases take place every Jan. 1 for an amount equal to whatever city union gets the lowest increase for that particular year.

Now is not the time for voting in a pay increase, said Rice after the meeting.

He said he is fortunate enough in his own personal situation to be able to give all his city council pay back to the community.

That includes a personal donation to keep Charlottetown Police Services officer Tim Keizer in Colonel Gray High school, said Rice.