EPC councillors back pay cut

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This article was published 04/12/2014 (4344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brian Bowman persuaded members of his powerful executive policy committee to cut their salaries.

But the newly elected mayor had no luck eliminating severance payments for councillors.

Bowman received unanimous approval for seven of the eight campaign promises he put before EPC. All members of council still need to vote on them. The salary cuts would take effect Jan. 1

The severance issue was sent to council without a recommendation.

After the meeting, Bowman said he was pleased with the support on the seven issues and is looking forward to debating the severance plan.

Bowman said he lobbied councillors for more than a week to gain their support. He said he told them these were campaign commitments voters overwhelmingly endorsed by electing him.

The other measures endorsed by EPC include:

• Elimination of some eligible councillor expenses, including meals with other councillors and staff, home Internet and tickets to professional sporting events.
• Endorsement of a community plan to end homelessness.
• Request to administration to determine how best to assist community centres with online volunteer scheduling.
• Creation of an office staff to advise the mayor and EPC.
• Inclusion of indigenous art into every capital project.
• Development of landscaping and safety standards for downtown surface parking lots.

Bowman said he thinks EPC’s decision to trim their salaries and reduce the number of eligible expenses will leave a lasting impression on the public.

“If we can do whatever we can for those of us that are here at city hall to let the public know we are here for them, we are here for Winnipeggers first and foremost, that will change the tone and make public service a more honourable calling than it is already,” he said.

Bowman proposed a 50 per cent reduction in the salary hikes given to councillors on EPC and to the Speaker, deputy speaker and deputy mayor — and to himself.

For 2015, that works out to a cut of $11,810.54. For the deputy speaker, it’s a cut of $5,693.93

Even with the cut, the mayor will make more than the premier of Manitoba. Greg Selinger’s salary for the fiscal year ending March 31, was $142,544, provincial public accounts show.

Bowman wanted to end the severance paid to councillors who lose an election or who decide not to seek re-election (three weeks pay for every year of service up to a maximum of six months pay). Bowman dismissed it as a “payout,” vowed he would never take it and said no one on council should take it either.

But Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) moved that severance be considered at next week’s council meeting with no recommendation.

Only Bowman voted against that move.

Earlier in the meeting, former councillor George Fraser urged Bowman to reconsider his move on severance, saying it had been adopted by council in 2011 on the recommendation of an independent expert on compensation.

Fraser said Bowman had offered no rationale for eliminating severance, or even the salary reductions, other than his personal dislike, adding such a move should be done based on a study.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), a member of EPC, said he doesn’t consider severance a payout.

He said the amount may be excessive, but those who lose an election should be entitled to a payment to ease their transition back to private life.

Mayes said he hopes council refers the severance issue to its governance committee for further study.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca