New rates in place for 2015 led to increased compensation for directors, according to Regional District of Nanaimo’s annual statement of financial information.
A district-appointed committee established new compensation prior to the 2014 municipal election, with base remuneration for municipal directors increasing to $13,300 from $11,855. Rural area directors’ compensation rose to $24,285 from $18,440.
Regular meeting attendance is covered in the base amount, said Tiffany Moore, regional district manager of accounting services, but directors received $70 for additional public and advisory committee meetings.
Among Nanaimo-area rural representatives, Alec McPherson, Cedar-area director, saw the highest remuneration in 2015 with $36,503, up from $26,267 in 2014.
Howard Houle, Garbiola Island-area director, saw his total remuneration rise to $34,214 in 2015, from $24,376 in 2014.
Extension-area director Maureen Young’s compensation rose to $34,382 in 2015, after receiving $23,281 the previous year.
Bob Rogers, Nanoose Bay area director, wasn’t on the last board, being sworn in late in the 2014 fiscal year, and as such, received $709 in 2014 and $33,511 in 2015.
Similarly, Colin Haime, Lantzville mayor and deputy board chairman, received $456 in 2014 and $16,216 in 2015.
Bill McKay, Nanaimo mayor and director, topped all Nanaimo directors with $15,626 in 2015, after receiving $1,096 in 2014, when he was an alternate director.
Bill Bestwick and Jim Kipp, Nanaimo directors who were on the previous board, saw remuneration rise from $12,625 and $12,315 to $14,836 and $15,156 respectively.
Jerry Hong, Wendy Pratt, Ian Thorpe and Bill Yoachim are first-time Nanaimo directors.All received $456 in 2014 and their remuneration in 2015 ranged from $14,276 and $15,376.
McPherson topped the expense list with $10,599 in 2015, followed by Houle with $9,742, Rogers with $8,305 and Young with $4,313. Both McPherson and Houle said mileage and travel were notable expenses, with Houle taking the Gabriola ferry and McPherson having a long distance to drive.
McPherson said there is a $2,000 allowance for technology in a director’s first year of their term and he bought a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet.
Directors from Lantzville and Nanaimo all had expenses under $374.
Expenses and compensation for directors and alternates amounted to $74,540 and $418,317, respectively, in 2015.
