Kentville councillors question conference trips
Coun. Andrew Zebian is concerned about Kentville taxpayers footing the bill to send councillors to conferences.
“People are starving," Zebian said. "We have people living in tents. And I just think this is a poor way to spend money right now.”
The issue was raised at the April 8 advisory committee meeting as the town was sending Coun. Paula Huntley to the International Network of Michelin Cities conference April 15-19 in Anderson, S.C. She was part of a six-person contingent from the region.
Zebian said his issue had nothing to do with who was going but what benefit the town was getting from attending the conference.
“Whenever I spend money, I like to see what my return is,” he said.
The conference website said representatives from member cities from around the world would take part in “an informative, innovative experience around the thematics of the INMC.”
It also said the network “encourages joint reflection and experimentation among local governments, universities and corporations.”
Mayor Sandra Snow attended two of the previous three Michelin conferences but wasn’t able to attend this year. Chief administrative officer Jeff Lawrence said he had spoken with Snow, who was not at the advisory committee meeting, and the mayor had told him she found them very beneficial as she took part in economic development discussions and was able to promote the town.
While Michelin subsidizes the conference, municipalities still have costs, including flights and travel expenses. Snow attended previous conferences in Spain and France.
Zebian said the perception in the public could be that it’s a vacation.
Coun. Cathy Maxwell said she has raised an issue with attending conferences, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual gathering, several times during her two terms on council.
“Coun. Zebian, I think, is absolutely right," Maxwell said. "It is perceived as a vacation. And to be totally honest, it primarily is a vacation and it’s at the taxpayers’ expense.”
She said policy G4, which was created in 1999 and covers travel, meals and miscellaneous expenses, should be reviewed early in the next council’s term. The next municipal election is set for Oct. 19.
Maxwell said there are also three council members attending this year’s FCM conference, set for June 6-9 in Calgary.
Maxwell said she was told if she was underbudget for travel expenses and another councillor overbudget on travel, the savings would be used to cover the deficit.
“I think this is something that we need to really get a handle on," she said. "We need to be transparent about it. If I go overbudget, then that should be pointed out.”
Lawrence told councillors it could be a good discussion to have during budget deliberations. He did note there is value in having a seat at the table when funding programs are being discussed.
Exactly how much councillors are permitted to spend on travel was not immediately available. The 2023-24 budget shows the town budgeted $10,000 for the mayor’s expenses and $27,000 for the six councillors’ expenses, which would cover more than travel.
The nearest Michelin plant to Kentville is located about 15 kilometres away in Waterville, but Snow noted there are employees who would live in the town, as the company is one of the largest employers in the region.
Mayor Peter Muttart and Deputy Mayor Emily Lutz were expected to represent Kings County at the conference, while economic development officers Richelle Brown Redden and Kyle Walsh to attend on behalf of the Valley Regional Enterprise Network and community innovation lead Gerard d’entremont for the Nova Scotia Community College.