In the correspondence log of March 18 council meeting, there are more than 60 letters regarding the salary increase retroactive to January 2019 that council gave themselves when they adopted bylaw #729 on the Feb. 25 council meeting.
About 95% of these letters from our residents are opposed to this self-renumeration bylaw.
Though council chose to discuss some of the mail in the correspondence log, none of those issues was reiterated as much as this renumeration bylaw, yet council did not refer to any of those 60 letters.
They did mention earlier “the use of technologies to increase communication and participation with the community”… “to make the governance process more transparent and effective”.
So in my comments from the galley at the end of this March 18 council meeting: let’s be transparent and accountable to the public now by readdressing remuneration bylaw #729.
As a mayor has the powers on his own initiative within 30 days, have council reconsider and vote again on any matter that was subject of a vote.
Furthermore any two councillors can request a special meeting as well.
And let’s have an independent assessment by an experienced outside consultant to assist. Their salaries should be comparable to other communities of a similar size.
Jean Young
Qualicum Beach