Wednesday 26 January 2022

Fredericton councillor changes vote on pay raise, narrowing margin

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-city-hall-remuneration-1.6327245

 

Fredericton councillor changes vote on pay raise, narrowing margin

Jocelyn Pike says she could not, in 'good conscience' vote for increase

Councillors are in the process of deciding on the pay rise, which would see their earnings go from $26,000 a year to $35,000. If approved, the mayor's salary and allowances will also jump from $71,000 a year to $87,000, a near 23 per cent raise.

Two weeks ago, councillors voted eight to four in favour of the pay increase, with Bruce Grandy, Mark Peters, Steven Hicks and Margo Sheppard voting against. 

But at Monday night's council meeting, Coun. Jocelyn Pike joined the dissenters, further closing the gap. 

In an emailed statement to CBC, Pike said she had taken note of how residents in her ward are struggling. 

"I could not then vote yes in good conscience," she said. "I would support a gradual increase over a period of time to give us parity with Saint John and Moncton."

Third and final reading is on Feb. 7, and should one more councillor decide to vote against the motion, Mayor Kate Rogers will have to cast the deciding vote to break the tie. 

In an interview with reporters after the council meeting, Rogers wouldn't say how she would vote but said she's given it a lot of thought. 

"Every time that this item has been discussed, I've given great thought to it. I've read the report extensively," she said. "I'm now in my third council and I can tell you it's been discussed at every council and so I've given a lot of thought to the issue."

Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers says the proposed raise would bring councillors up to the median wage range for the province. (Jon Collicott/CBC)

Rogers reiterated that the council hasn't had a substantial wage increase since 2010, though it does get yearly increases according to the Consumer Price Index. 

After the federal government axed a tax break that municipal politicians received for part of their income in 2019, an independent review recommended council get a pay raise that would see their earnings brought in line with comparable municipalities in the region.

At the time, that meant an increase of 13.5 per cent in the mayor's salary and 29 per cent in councillor paycheques.

"There were really two goals," said Rogers, "One, to bring us to that median standard. And secondly, it's an acknowledgement of how much this work has changed since 2010." 

Rogers said she didn't see the need for a gradual increase. 

"We need to hit reset just to bring this current council up to the median level of the Maritime provinces. We need to hit reset just to acknowledge what council work looks like now… So it doesn't make much sense to me that that be done gradually."

The increase for all of council would amount to about $130,000. 
 

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

13 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
 
 
 
David Amos
Oh My My
 
 
 
George Smith
If they vote for the raise they should also vote to give similar raises to the City workers. But that won't happen so they shouldn't get anything more percentage wise than a City employee. No political raise should ever be made without a citizen group approving it or a referendum at election time. It's our money not theirs.  
 
 
David Amos
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Reply to @George Smith: Do ya think your buddies are still laughing about the Fat Fred City Finest stealing my Panhead??? 





Kevin Archibald
Still gonna pass, but she'll look good while it does. Laughable, but that's politics.
 
 
Neil Murphy
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Reply to @Kevin Archibald: Kevin has figured out the game.  
 
 
David Amos
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Reply to @Neil Murphy: Yup
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chuck Michaels
Democracy is three wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Politicians should NEVER be able to write their own cheques. Let the electorate do it as a ballot item.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Chuck Michaels: Good idea
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps
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Voted against, but sure happy it passed❗ What a 🦛❗
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps
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I wonder if she'll take the 💸❓
 
 
David Amos
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Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I will give your 3 guesses and the first 2 won't count just like the way the the politicians pass bills
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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