Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 08/02) - A local businessman is lashing out at the city for disregarding some of the recommendations made by an independent committee on remuneration and restructuring council.

"City council chose the ethical high road of appointing an independent committee," said David Connelly, who served on the committee. "It's exceedingly disappointing that council is recommending not to proceed with a number of the committee's substantial recommendations.

"Essentially, the committee and its work have been a waste of time."

Connelly is particularly angry that council is leaning away from a suggestion to cut its size from eight to six, with a predicted cost savings of $24,452 a year. Council specifically requested that the committee look at the size of council, but that suggestion has been rejected by almost every councillor.

Coun. Dave Ramsay is an exception.

"I think it's just a huge mistake to not go that route," said Ramsay. "It's the perfect opportunity to make a decision to change the way things are done. I think some of the other councillors are scared to do that. Of course, they have to worry about getting elected but that shouldn't be their concern. And I think it is in some instances."

Disagree with cuts

Other councillors are arguing that cutting council's size will make it more difficult to achieve quorum, hamper the ability to fill committees and reduce representation.

"It's not in the public interest to reduce the size of council," said Coun. Kevin O'Reilly. "We have a large city here with major responsibilities. We're a capital, and I think all of those reasons really point toward remaining at eight councillors."

Councillors also altered a number of other recommendations made by the committee. Each of these is still a recommendation from the priorities, policies and budget committee -- the matter will come before council next Monday.

But as it stands, council will oppose the committee's recommendations by:

• not lumping the non-taxable municipal officers allowance into salary figures;
• not providing additional compensation to the chairs of committees;
• not discontinuing Vacation Travel Allowance to the mayor
• maintaining RRSP contributions for the mayor; and,
• pay the mayor a transition allowance based on two weeks pay per year, instead of one week as recommended.

Council will vote on agreeing with the committee on eliminating the position of assistant deputy mayor. It will also go beyond the committee's recommendations by completely cutting additional compensation for the deputy mayor, paying that position only on a day-by-day basis

In the end, the measures might not end up saving council any money.

"We don't see any huge savings. There will be a little bit, but nothing substantial," said city finance director Robert Charpentier.

Other members of the restructuring committee are taking more guarded stances than Connelly.

"Going in, we knew that we were just making recommendations and that council could take them or leave them, so it's not a surprise," said Rick Upton. "They are the ones at the end of the day who have to face the public, and I'm not going to second guess them."

Ideas dismissed

Dave Hamilton chaired the restructuring committee.

"There was an expectation that council should consider (the recommendations) as a package," he said. "It seems a bit of a problem if you go to an independent commission for advice that is well thought-out and well-researched and then dismiss it."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem defended the right of council to implement the recommendations as it sees fit.