Title
Revised Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22
Proposed Motion
That revised Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 be approved, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports revised Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22.
Purpose
At the February 18, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting of Council, Council Member Tracey Melnyk presented a Notice of Motion that at the February 25, 2020 Council meeting that direction to administration will be moved to present Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 for discussion on March 10, 2020 at a regular meeting of Council.
At the February 25, 2020 Council meeting, Council Member Tracey Melnyk moved that administration be directed to present Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 for discussion on March 24, 2020 at a regular meeting of Council. Subsequently, at the March 16, 2020 special Council meeting, Policy C-AD22 was tabled to a future Councill meeting.
Administration presents for Council's discussion and direction Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22.
Summary
Administration reviewed areas that may be of concern for members of Council:
- What is included in conference budget?
- Is there a need for any additional mandatory conferences?
- Confirmation of the mechanism to return to Council for approval for additional funds if a Council Member is over budget.
- Clarification of per diem
Conference Budget
Per diems are not included in the calculation of Elected Official's Conference and Convention budgets.
- The intension is to include all conference costs aside from per diems. This would include registration, hotel, travel (airfaire, mileage, etc.), and meals.
Mandatory Conferences
Rural Municipalities of Alberta is currently the only mandatory conference and/or convention.
- One iteration of the policy included the following under mandatory conferences and conventions:
Two (2) Elected Officials shall be selected to attend the following conferences, meetings, and conventions on an annual rotational basis:
- Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA)
- Agriculture Service Board (ASB)
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show
- FarmTech
Recommendation: Council to determine if there are any mandatory conferences and conventions they would like to include in their budget.
Budget Controls
Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, Section 4 e.iii states: "No Elected Official shall exceed individual Conference and Convention budgets without prior approval of Council by a resolution passed at a public meeting. If an Elected Official exceeds their annual budget, the overage will be deducted from the next year's budget allocation once approved by Council. If an Elected Official does not spend their full annual budget, the remaining amount will be carried forward to the following year."
Recommendation: Policy C-AD22 was approved March 2019 to be enforeced for 2020 (i.e. 2020 budget variance taken into account for budget 2021).
Per Diems
September 25, 2018 Council directed administration to engage with the Chair and a member of the recent past Council Compensation Committee to work with administration to commence a compensation review and provide recommendations that adjust the compensation model for Council.
November 13, 2018, Council approved the 2019 Council Compensation Committee Terms of Reference; and, appointed public members to the 2019 Council Compensation Review Committee. The purpose of the Committee was to review Mayor and Councillor Compensation, and to make recommendations to Council regarding:
1. Allowances related to Conferences Events, Training & Development along with other Provisions; and,
2. Any other matters directed to the Committee by Council.
December 11, 2018, Council Compensation Committee presented proposed Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22. Council tabled the proposed policy and directed administration to address some key areas of the policy and to present to Council at the February 5, 2019 Committee of the Whole meeting.
February 5, 2019 the Committee of the Whole directed administration to present Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 to Council on February 26, 2019 for consideration.
February 26, 2019 Council moved to approve Schedule 'A' of proposed Policy C-AD22 effective January 1, 2019. The motion failed. A motion to table proposed Policy C-AD22 to be presented to Council on March 26, 2019 was approved.
March 26, 2019 Council approved Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22. Major changes to the policy included:
- Addition of definitions, especially related to Conferences, Conventions, and COuncil Business.
- Addition of a Responsibilities section for Elected Officials and administration.
- Changes to the Conferences and Conventions section, including the addition of Mandatory Conferences and Conventions.
- Changes to the Training and Development section, including the addition of mandatory training.
- Addition of Community Relations Budget.
Administration presents Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 as directed by Council on February 25, 2020. Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 policy objectives:
- Provide fair, consistent, and adequate compensation for Elected Officials at a level that will attract community-minded citizens as candidates for public office;
- Ensure compensation provided to Elected Officials is done in a transparent and cost-effective manner;
- Ensure that personal costs related to conducting Council business are minimized for Elected Officials; and,
- Maintain compensation relative to comparative municipalities in Alberta.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Responsible Leadership: We maintain the public's trust through transparent and fair decision-making, superior service delivery, and effective communication
Financial Impact:
Cost: n/a
Source of Funding: n/a