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HAY RIVER - Hay River town council has put forward the idea of creating a full-time mayor's position.

The idea was discussed during recent budget deliberations and it was added to the town's five-year capital plan.

However, a final decision on a full-time position will be made by a new council after the next election in October and, if approved, would become part of the 2010 budget.

Mayor Jean-Marc Miltenberger supports the idea of a full-time mayor, saying the current half-time position is not good enough for the community.

Miltenberger said a full-time mayor would maximize the benefits of the position for the town.

"We can be a political force in the territories," he said. "Currently, we are not."

After eight months as mayor, Miltenberger said he has found he is working much more than half-time hours.

In fact, he said he works in excess of 40 hours a week, including weekends.

"You don't count social events you're attending," he added.

Miltenberger said meetings alone account for about 10 hours a week.

"You've got to be proactive, not reactive, and that's where I find myself," he said.

Miltenberger, who plans to run for re-election, said the "optics" would not have been good if the status of the position had been changed in mid-term.

A full-time position would likely have a positive effect on the number of people running for mayor in the future, he added.

During the budget deliberations, the idea was proposed by Coun. Ken Latour, who recognizes that some people may think Hay River is too small for a full-time mayor.

However, Latour said he sees how much time Miltenberger puts into the position.

"I know he works pretty much full-time at being mayor," the councillor said.

Latour said the town is facing a lot of challenges and requires the leadership of a full-time mayor.

The councillor also said former mayor John Pollard, resigned early this year citing workload was the reason.

Latour also said not having a full-time mayor's position limits the kind of people who are able to run to lead the town because candidates are often businesspeople.

"If we want to be in a democratic society, that position should be open to as many people as possible," Latour said, adding that is not a criticism of the performances of businessmen as mayor.

The councillor himself has no plans to run for mayor, saying he is happy in his job as an adult educator with Aurora College.