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FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018
The voice of Delta since 1922
End of service brings benefit Delta council members who leave this fall will be first to receive a golden handshake SANDOR GYARMATI
s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
It’s a golden handshake for departing Delta council members. Whether it’s through retirement or losing their seat, the upcoming civic election will, for the first time, see outgoing council members receive onetime payouts based on years of service. Approved unanimously early last year without discussion, the council service benefit was a recommendation in a report authored by former CAO George Harvie that also contained a recommendation for the most recent council raises.
and Heather King, or Staff surveyed 17 saw their years of sermunicipalities at the vice interrupted by an time, finding that absence, which includes seven provided some Bruce McDonald and sort of benefit to counJeannie Kanakos, would cil members upon get lesser payouts. their departure. Jackson, who has been Council members on council since the in Delta will receive a Lois Jackson early 1970s but wouldn’t payout based on their receive any form of municipal salary and length of service to a pension, said it was a difficult maximum of 12 years. That serchoice to create an end of service must be continuous, which vice benefit. means Mayor Lois Jackson and “The way I dealt with it was to Coun. Robert Campbell would be the only ones to get the maxi- think that this should be in place for future councils. Both senior mum payout should they leave levels of government do have a this October. pension package for people who Others who have not been have served for a certain period on council for as long, includof time. People who have been ing Ian Paton, Sylvia Bishop
COUNCIL SERVICE BENEFIT PAYOUTS Mayor Lois Jackson: $124,153 Coun. Robert Campbell: $54,991 Coun. Bruce McDonald: $48,978 Coun. Ian Paton: $39,511* Coun. Jeannie Kanakos: $34,199 Coun. Sylvia Bishop: $33,958 Coun. Heather King: $19,820
Figures provided by Delta’s finance department are one-time payouts should council member leave in October. * Figure based on serving out term, but Paton scheduled to leave July 1, which would reduce payout by about $425 per month.
on council for a certain period have dedicated themselves. I think if we would have had an option those long years ago to contributing to a plan, I think all of us would have taken that
because if it does turn out you were there for a long time, it does take away from your ability to have a pension plan with another company,” she said. BENEFIT: see Page 3
Cali Dagenais named 2018 MayQueen
PHOTO BY DAVE WILLIS
Cali Dagenais (back row, third from right) from Holly Elementary was selected as this year’s May Queen while Brianna Nixon (back row, left) from Sunshine Hills Elementary was picked as first princess and Naiya Harlow (front row, fourth from left) from Heath Elementary was chosen as second princess Tuesday night at the Ladner Community Centre. The crowning of the May Queen will take place at Memorial Park Sunday after the Ladner Pioneer May Days parade. Delta’s oldest festival, May Days begins this afternoon and continues throughout the weekend.
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