What Lynne Bennett thinks about ABC pay

Agencies, boards and commissions should decide whether to pay their appointees rather than city council, Deputy Mayor Lynne Bennett says.

"As far as compensation for council members who sit on agencies, boards and commissions, we made the decision that we will not receive it. But we haven't given any direction to the other appointees and it's my belief that that's the responsibility of the boards and agencies."

Bennett’s mayoral opponent Vic Fedeli has already promised he would eliminate, if elected, compensation for non-elected people sitting on the ABCs.

Bennett agreed dropping compensation could mean losing potential appointees.

“You may lose some people and it may be a good idea that they all be volunteer positions, but as I said that’s the decision of the agencies, boards and commissions if they want to go in that direction,” Bennett said.

In some cases, such as the police commission, Bennett said, appointments are made by the province and not council.

"And the province makes that determination," Bennett said.
"So I believe it should be the decision of the agency or the board and not the council dictating to them."

In some cases, such as the planning advisory committee, the city would have direct say about compensation issues, Bennett said.

"That falls into one of our departments and it could be they would want to look at that and say 'we have the ability to pay or not pay, that's our decision'," Bennett said.

"As far as the other agencies and boards, I don't think you can make a sweeping statement about whether they should or should not get compensation."

Council has asked staff to prepare a report on the recruitment, selection and orientation for its appointees to agencies boards and commissions.

The report will not look at compensation matters, Bennett said.