The new city council will be taking a second look at the golden handshakes.
On Monday evening, the current civic politicians, who have been getting plenty of heat during the civic election campaign over the end of service payouts they unanimously voted themselves last year, agreed to review the policy.
Jeannie Kanakos had brought forward the motion, asking to look at the deletion of the retroactive nature of the policy and, among other things including council’s remuneration package, hold a public information session on the issue.
It’s “poignant” that council deals with this on its last decision-making session, said Kanakos.
Due for a one-time payout of $34,199 if not re-elected, Kanakos has been criticized during the election by council candidate Mike Smith over her defending the payouts until election time.
Mayoralty hopeful Jim Cessford has also been vocal, saying the golden handshakes were approved without transparency and public consultation. Kanakos happens to be on his election slate, as well as incumbent Bruce McDonald, who stands to cash-in $48,978 if not re-elected. He admitted the vote “wasn’t debated in any great length” at the public meeting last year but also pointed out federal tax changes have impacted elected officials across the country.
“I think people need to be recompensed for the efforts they put in and I think it should be done in a very public and transparent way,” said McDonald.
Approved unanimously early last year without discussion around the council table, the council service benefit was a recommendation in a report authored by former CAO George Harvie that also contained the recommendations for the most recent council pay raises.
Staff surveyed 17 municipalities at the time, finding that seven provided some sort of benefit to council members upon their departure.
Council members in Delta would receive a one-time payout based on their salary and length of service to a maximum of 12 years. That service must be continuous, which means Lois Jackson ($124,153) and Robert Campbell ($54,991) if not re-elected would be the only ones to get the maximum payout. Jackson, who is not running for mayor again but is seeking a council seat, would get more based on her mayor’s salary. If elected to council and staying on for four more years, her eligible payout would be adjusted to take into account her current council salary.
A memo from staff notes that if council wishes to undertake a review, it’s suggested that as a first step a council workshop be held. “The workshop would include background information, an overview with examples from other jurisdictions, and a discussion about the deletion of the retroactive nature of the Council Service Benefit, a cap on remuneration, and a potential public process. At Council’s direction following such a process, a bylaw amendment would be required to revise provisions related to the Council Service Benefit.”
Campbell said it might be best have an independent third party point of view, adding council nor the public might not be informed well enough.
Sylvia Bishop, who is leaving her council seat to run for mayor and would make $33,958 if not elected, said “it shows good leadership and sound judgment to review some of the decisions that have been made in the past” based on the feedback.
She added that when the bylaw came forward during the regular meeting for a vote "I know I didn’t speak on it because by the time it had reached that point, we had already discussed it so often, in-camera, as the whole plan was being developed. I think someone described that the first plan was really rich and we as a council sent it back, so there was a lot of discussion. So, that part rests with me, I should have raised my voice to discuss it better and inform the public.”
Jackson said it’s not a new problem for elected officials to determine their own stipend, adding Delta council had a “very fulsome discussion” on the policy prior to the vote. She said she agrees the new council should review it but isn’t sure whether it should be through a committee.
Ian Paton and Heather King, both not seeking re-election, are in line to receive $39,511 and $19,820 respectively. There’s no indication the city would withhold or try to take back that money from them if there’s a change of policy.
Harvie, meanwhile, has been in a war of words recently with Bishop, McDonald, Campbell and Kanakos over the issue.
Due to a backlash, the Metro Vancouver board this year rescinded a retirement benefit it had approved for itself.
