
St. John's council cancels controversial pay hike CBC \|\| February 03, 2006 Related - Resigned or Defeated MPs to Collect $77.5-million in Cumulative Pension Entitlements from Taxpayers City councillors in St. John's have voted to cancel hefty pay raises for themselves, a week after they ignited public controversy by approving the measure. They were flooded with complaints about the pay increase, which was passed during a meeting with no advance notice on Jan. 23. The increases would have amounted to more than 17 per cent over four years beginning in 2002, and included retroactive pay. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business accused the council of being "cowardly" by making the decision on the same night as the parliamentary election, when public attention was elsewhere. Councillors cancelled the pay raises in a vote Monday and referred the issue to an independent consultant. A 2002 council rule requires similar decisions be made with the guidance of an outside consultant. The councillors said there was nothing underhanded about the raises or how they were approved. "For anyone to think that in any way, shape or form, that this was intentional, to try to – as they say – sneak something by, they are way out in left field," said Coun. Keith Coombs. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com St. John's Mayor Andy Wells said the increases were based on raises given to other workers in the public and private sectors. "I'll defend it because it's only what everyone else got. We're not asking for anything more and we're not asking for anything less," he said. He predicted the independent consultant would only recommend the same figures. Others on the council said they made a mistake because they didn't outline the rationale for the raises to taxpayers. "It was not explained properly," said Coun. Tom Hann. "If it had been explained properly, I don't think you and I would be discussing the issue, because it would have been out in the public and everybody [would] know about." Hann, who was elected last fall, said he's new to politics and hated to think some people view him with scepticism. "I value my integrity very, very much and I would not be part of anything that would be sinister," he said. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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St. John's council cancels controversial pay hike

CBC || February 03, 2006

Related - Resigned or Defeated MPs to Collect $77.5-million in Cumulative Pension Entitlements from Taxpayers

City councillors in St. John's have voted to cancel hefty pay raises for themselves, a week after they ignited public controversy by approving the measure.

They were flooded with complaints about the pay increase, which was passed during a meeting with no advance notice on Jan. 23.

The increases would have amounted to more than 17 per cent over four years beginning in 2002, and included retroactive pay.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business accused the council of being "cowardly" by making the decision on the same night as the parliamentary election, when public attention was elsewhere.

Councillors cancelled the pay raises in a vote Monday and referred the issue to an independent consultant. A 2002 council rule requires similar decisions be made with the guidance of an outside consultant.

The councillors said there was nothing underhanded about the raises or how they were approved.

"For anyone to think that in any way, shape or form, that this was intentional, to try to – as they say – sneak something by, they are way out in left field," said Coun. Keith Coombs.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

St. John's Mayor Andy Wells said the increases were based on raises given to other workers in the public and private sectors.

"I'll defend it because it's only what everyone else got. We're not asking for anything more and we're not asking for anything less," he said.

He predicted the independent consultant would only recommend the same figures.

Others on the council said they made a mistake because they didn't outline the rationale for the raises to taxpayers.

"It was not explained properly," said Coun. Tom Hann.

"If it had been explained properly, I don't think you and I would be discussing the issue, because it would have been out in the public and everybody [would] know about."

Hann, who was elected last fall, said he's new to politics and hated to think some people view him with scepticism.

"I value my integrity very, very much and I would not be part of anything that would be sinister," he said.

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