The policy around how Nelson Council’s salary and benefits are determined will be reviewed. Council have asked City staff to look into other ways of conducting the indemnity review process besides going to the community and putting together a select committee.
Mayor John Dooley explains.
“We’re looking at doing one that’s been used in many other municipalities where the staff does the research for council. It’s quicker, it’s easier, for the most part they have more access to more information.”
Mayor Dooley says he felt the committee brought forward fair suggestions regarding new salaries for council, but the last council jumped the gun when increasing those suggestions by $5,000 and $10,000.
Councillor Brittny Anderson brought forward the motion as she feels there’s some “antiquated” aspects of the policy.
“That committee apparently it’s quite a challenging committee to be on and then those recommendations aren’t even necessarily taken by council, so I just think there’s potentially other ways of doing things.”
With the review, there won’t be a change to the current council’s salaries, but the new review process would apply to the next council. Staff have one year to bring back a recommendation to council.