During the Rossland city council meeting on Monday, CAO Cecile Arnott, in an effort to clear up what the salaries of the city’s managers are, presented some numbers for this year and next year.
Arnott said that the staff have been working on a management restructuring which combines some positions, to streamline work and the total budget going to management pay.
The restructuring also leaves some funds for a new position.
The main change is the combining of the CAO and CFO positions, as well as the combining of the Deputy CAO and CO positions.
Combining the CAO/CFO position saves a substantial amount, with a CAO’s base salary at $149,000 in 2012 and $155,000 in 2013, while the CFO position is $107,500 for 2012 and $111,000 in 2013.
The combined position, which Arnott occupies makes a base salary of $145,000 for both 2012 and 2013.
The Corporate Officer position and temp, which Tracey Butler occupies, is now the Deputy CAO position/CO. The old structuring the CO made a base salary of $120,000 in 2012 and $124,000 in 2013, while with the new structure the Deputy CAO/CO starts at a base salary of $118,000 in 2012 and $121,500 in 2013.
Arnott explained that in total in the past structure, the city has run with eight managers costing $830,000 yearly. Those positions included the CAO, the CO, the Manager of Finance, Manager of Operation, Manager of Planning. The 2013 base salary was projected at $580,000.
Arnott said they were also trying to address the challenges they face filling vacancies, as well as housing costs and competition in the market prices.
Council had also seen the need for succession planning, and resolved to combine the CAO and CFO positions, so that the Deputy CAO could then step into the role in the future.
Arnott said they the new structure brings the total number to four managers. They are the CAO/CFO, the Deputy CAO/CO, the manager of Operations and the Manager of Planning.
Arnott said the new position would be a confidential secretary to work as an assistant to the Deputy CAO/CO and to help with the Freedom of Information requests, which she said takes about about 1.5 days a week work in Rossland.
Coun. Cary Fisher wondered how many people were actually submitting the Freedom of Information requests.
Arnott couldn’t say as the information may be privy, though said she would look into it.
The mayor noted that one of the problems is if it were one person putting in all the requests, they could be singled out.
Coun. Jill Spearn asked if that number of requests was a common theme in other municipalities.
Arnott said that in the cities she’s worked at in the past, it was not common.