Coun. Joanne Peckhamís timesheet was the centre of attention in the Town of Athabascaís council chambers last week when some of the councillors learned she had received an advance on her base pay.
ìSince when do we give advances on pay cheques? Because thatís what this is ñ this is an advance,î Coun. Tim Verhaeghe said at the town council meeting on Mar. 1. ìI find this very peculiar that now, all of a sudden, weíre doing special runs, which also comes at a certain expense to the town for doing these cheque runs. This doesnít sit well with me.î
Peckham replied that the townís chief administrative officer Josh Pyrcz authorized the payment.
ìI asked the CAO if it was allowed, and he said it is,î she said.
However, Mayor Roger Morrill pointed out that it was done without councilís knowledge.
ìYou asked the question, but you didnít ask the question of council. You asked your CAO,î he said.
However, Coun. Nichole Adams defended Peckham, saying the reason timesheets are brought to council is to ensure expenses are within town policy.
ìItís a deposit so itís not like sheís getting a cheque or anything,î she noted. ìI donít have a problem with it if sheís not double charging for that month. Sheís just getting her base pay, her $1,000 a month. I really donít care how the base salary is handled, as long as sheís not being paid any more than council, which sheís not.î
But the expense still raised red flags for Verhaeghe.
ìThis isnít precedent around this table,î he said. ìIf this is going on, what else is going on? I donít know.î
However, Coun. Tanu Evans reitered that Peckham had not been double paid nor did she double charge.
ìShe got the deposit in her bank account prior to the rest of usÖThe budget line is the exact same,î he said.
Council passed a motion to accept the timesheets.
Multiplex budget and expense plan
Athabasca Regional Multiplex general manager Dustin Pysyk was invited to council chambers to answer questions about the multiplexís 2016 operational budget and capital expense plan.
The Multiplex Society approved the 2016 budget ñ with a projected $1 million deficit ñ at a committee meeting on Feb. 22.
The capital expense plan would see the purchase of spa heaters, a floor scrubber and recreation software.
Program equipment like bubbles for bubble soccer, inflatable bumper cars, a sports simulator and laser tag were included under capital expenses, but are pending grant funding.
ìWhen I look at this multiplex budget, I do have a big problem with some of the capital items,î Evans told council. ìI find they are a needless expense and without business plans for them, I couldnít vote on this. So just a reminder, I would need to see a business plan.î
Coun. Shelly Gurba said the committee is waiting to hear back about the Imagine Community Grant for some of the purchases.
ìThese are things theyíve been looking at for several years at this point,î she said. ìThe idea there is that in the summer, when the multiplex is sitting there empty, (we could) maybe get some revenue coming in rather than the municipalities losing money during that time.î
Pysyk was appointed general manager in December after former manager Brad Gilbert was terminated by the multiplex committee.
Committee appointments
Council voted to fill positions on eight committees left vacant by Mayor Morrill and Coun. Verhaeghe.
Council voted in favour of a motion on Feb. 16 that removed the two members of council from all boards, committees and societies. The move came before councilís vote to take an application to the Court of Queenís Bench to disqualify them.
ìNow that youíre going to have five councillors representing all committees, I would strongly suggest that you consider trying to balance this as much possible, to give as much voice to people who voted for you, rather than one person having a lot of extra committee work,î Morrill said to council as they were deliberating. ìThere are certain members around this table who seem to have more work right now than others.î
Before the reshuffle, it was noted that Coun. Steve Schafer sat on 13 committees, Coun. Gurba on 12, Peckham and Adams on 11 each, Evans on 10 committees, while Verhaeghe sat on nine and Morrill on five.
Council voted to have Adams sit on the Riverfront Design Review Committee and the Multiplex Society, and to be an alternate on the pool design committee.
Coun. Gurba and Peckham were assigned pool design seats, while Peckham also took up the communication committee spot.
Schafer will now sit on the Multiplex Society and Evans would be an alternate for the Tourism and Economic Development board.
