The question of honourariums for municipal alternate directors caused some discussion during the corporate services committee meeting at the regional district board room on Jan. 5.
It was recently discovered that municipal alternates were not receiving any remuneration even though the Board Remuneration Bylaw reads that they should. Rural electoral area alternates have been receiving a monthly $71 stipend, however, and discussion ensued over whether or not the regional district should be paying their municipal counterparts.
RDOS board chair Dan Ashton described the rural alternates as busier noting that they were utilized on a more regualar basis than their municipal counterparts, who are paid as municipal councillors, and still receive stipends if they attend meetings on behalf of the regional district.
Keremeos Director Manfred Bauer questioned where the seemingly arbitrary sum of $71 dollars per month came from. He noted that his research showed that the regional districts of Central Okanagan and North Okanagan did not pay alternates at all, to which Ashton explained that the alternates in the RDOS were not paid either until six years ago, when then Area D Director Bill Schwarz put forward the question.
Present Area “D” Director Tom Siddon noted that not all electoral area alternates carried the same work load, noting that in Area “D” the workload was considerably higher than other areas. He commented that rural areas should “Pay what is required of the alternates.
Chief Administrative Officer, Bill Newell clarified the form of payment, telling the directors that alternates, who are not elected, would be provided an honourarium, not pay. He also observed that the amount of honourarium paid to alternates would vary greatly throughout the province’s regional districts.
Area “B” Director asked about liability potential stemming from the issuance of an honourarium, the reply being that liability would not be a factor, while Area “F” Director Michael Brydon reminded the board that they were not talking about a lot of money, but more about the principle involved.
The staff report advised the board that continuing to not pay municipal alternates would put them in contravention of their own bylaw. If they were to begin paying them, a budget amount in the order of $5,112 per year would need to be created, and the bylaw amended to reflect that.
The motion put forward to the committee asked if the honourarium should be extended to municipal alternates was turned down by the board. The honourarium for electoral alternates of $71 per month will continue. The motion carried 16 -2.