Pay raise approved for mayor, councillors

SUMMERLAND — After a lengthy debate Monday night, Summerland council approved a forthcoming pay raise for both city councillors and the mayor.

The next mayor of Summerland will see a pay raise to $36,000 annually from $28,843, while councillors — whose pay is indexed at 45 per cent of the mayor’s — will now receive $16,200 a year instead of $12,757.

A four-person committee appointed in 2017 to represent the district, comprised of chief administrative officer Linda Tynan, human resources manager Marnie Manders, and Summerland residents residents June Waddell and Bill Everitt, conducted extensive research by comparing current wages to those in 21 other communities. Their findings were presented Monday night by Tynan.

“We took a very conservative approach,” remarked Tynan as council was presented with a findings chart. She also discussed the potential for extended health benefits, child care subsidies, as well as technology allowances. Some other municipalities currently offer these perks to their councillors and mayor. As of now, however, Tynan doesn’t see these options as discussable, as she doesn’t “believe that it is far enough understood for ramifications at this time.”

Coun. Doug Holmes was quick to jump in, putting forth a motion to have the discussion deferred until the upcoming election is over.

“I'm troubled by even discussing this in the middle of an election campaign,” he told council.

Coun. Richard Barkwill seconded the motion, but the two did not receive any further support.

It was further noted that debate on the pay increase had been discussed several times in the past.

Mayor Peter Waterman was not present at Monday night’s council meeting, and Coun. Toni Boot was acting as deputy mayor in his place.

Voters head to the polls Oct. 20. The new council will take over in November. The raises will be for the next council and not the current council, which was first elected in 2014.