The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor City councillors are enshrining into law a commitment to tie their own salary hikes to those of municipal employees. At their meeting last week, council approved first reading of a bylaw that links their 2011 and 2012 raises _ and all future raises _ to the collective agreement between the CUPE Local 228 union and the city. Council passed a resolution to this effect last month, but upon further research discovered that a bylaw is required. 'It makes it a bylaw and it carries out the effect of it going forward in a more correct sort of way,' said Municipal Admin-istrator Mark Kolt. Coun. Skip Martin, who was against last month's motion, was again opposed on the grounds that he does not believe the raises should be retroactive to 2011. The motion nevertheless carried, but will require two more readings _ likely at the next council meeting Feb. 7 _ before becoming law. Councillors have argued that tying their raises to the CUPE contract is the fairest means of determining their own wage increases. Until now, councils have voted, often annually, on whether to accept raises, sometimes drawing criticism from the public in the process. The new council policy is in line with that of their counterparts on the Flin Flon School Board, whose wages rise or fall in accordance with the teachers' contract. CUPE Local 228 represents all city workers other than management, airport staff and firefighters. However, pay raises negotiated by CUPE have become the standard for all other city employees. The only exception, until now, were councillors. Slightly incorrect salary figures for mayor and council recently appeared in The Reminder. To set the record straight, in 2012 Mayor George Fontaine will earn $18,129. The deputy mayor, a position rotated equally amongst the six councillors, will earn $12,612. Individual councillors, meanwhile, take in $10,565 per year. Even though council's bylaw is expected to pass final reading, future councils will retain the right to overturn the decision. Highlights Other highlights from last week's council meeting: Council approved construction of a new home on the vacant lot at 308 Centennial Crescent. Council voted to renew the city's yearly membership with the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce for $350. Council agreed to reschedule their Feb. 21 meeting to Monday, Feb. 13. Council approved the yearly airport terminal rental and baggage handling agreements with Calm Air.
