by Jessica Wallace
Kamloops This Week
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District board has deferred the issue of a pay raise for directors to its meeting at the end of the month.
The board was expected to ratify changes at its March 14 board meeting, but the TNRD’s finance director Doug Rae told KTW a busier than usual agenda that week led to the deferral.
The board will now discuss the matter on March 28.
During a committee of the whole meeting in February, the board approved sending a revision of its remuneration bylaw to its next board meeting.
Electoral area directors would see a 19-per-cent increase (to $23,700 from $19,875 in 2018), while municipal directors would see an 11-per-cent increase (to $14,400 from $13,028). In addition, the board chair, Kamloops-area resident Ken Gillis, would see an increase of 18 per cent (to $46,300 from $39,100), while vice-chair Steven Rice of Spences Bridge would see an increase of 27 per cent (to $28,200 from $22,213).
Per meeting pay would also increase to $160 from $150 and staff are recommending the addition of emergency response pay, at $160 per meeting. There would also be an increase in the per-kilometre travel rate, to 58 cents from 55 cents.
The regional district bases its remuneration on nine surrounding regional districts, some of which raised their wages to compensate for federal legislative changes eliminating a tax break for politicians. Based on that, TNRD’s remuneration was determined to be below average.
Some TNRD directors, including Kamloops Coun. Arjun Singh, Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell and Area P (Rivers and the Peaks) director Mel Rothenburger, opposed the motion to send a revision of its remuneration bylaw to a board meeting for a vote.
