Councillor Josie Wintersinger wants town council to rethink its decision on staff salaries for 2013.
Following an in-camera session on Dec. 4, councillors here agreed to a three per cent wage increase – with a 1.5% increase effective Jan. 1, and another 1.5% effective July 1.
Reporting from that meeting Mayor Lou Maieron said because the full 3% increase is not in place until the second half of the year, the actual overall 2013 increase is 2.25%, with an impact of $66,460.
He added staff also requested an increase to the weekly indemnity for short-term benefits from $1,000 to $1,300 per week – an impact of $114 per month.
Council agreed to both of those increases on Dec. 4.
However, on Dec. 18 Wintersinger introduced a notice of motion asking that council reconsider its decision to approve the increases.
As a point of order, councillor Barb Tocher said only members of council who voted in the affirmative can asked for the vote to be reconsidered.
Mayor Lou Maieron said it created a bit of a dilemma.
“What do you do when there is not a recorded vote?” he asked, adding that with recorded votes it is clear who voted and how.
CAO Frank Miele said there are items to be considered.
While Wintersinger can bring the notice of motion forward, to be approved it would require the support of either two thirds of those who passed the original motion or two thirds of the majority of council.
Maieron said that knowing this notice of motion was coming forward, he had asked for it to be moved forward in the agenda – as it would preclude questions from business arising from the minutes.
He later asked for clarification from staff as to how the wage shifts take place to reach the 3% increase.
CAO Frank Miele said a report would come back to council, in time for the Jan. 8 meeting, to clarify the numbers.
