The District of Kent Council has agreed to hire an independent consultant to review their paycheques and see how they measure up.
District CAO Wallace Mah told Council at the last regular Council meeting May 25 there has not been an independent review for approximately seven years. The Council renumeration bylaw was adopted in 2008.
"Undertaking a review of Council renumeration is always sensitive, in particular, when the review and the decision to change the rates are made by those directly affected," Mah writes in the staff report. "An independent body would look at comparative data with other jurisdictions and provide independent recommendations to Council."
Council voted in favour of the staff recommendation to hire James R. Craven and Associates Ltd. for the study.
“It’s useful to have an independent review done,” said Mayor John Van Laerhoven. “Then we know exactly where we stand moving forward.”
The review will look at issues and concerns in the Fraser Valley, the amount of time Council dedicates to the job, comparisons to similar sized communities and the cost of time. The independent review could cost up to $3,000 plus taxes.