Dear Editor:
An open letter to Whitewater Region Council.
I have been reading about the possibility that Whitewater Region council may get an increase in compensation.
In the private sector where I have spent my career compensation is based upon several criteria:
1) the Hay System, that compares salaries for similar positions in Canada. No doubt there is some argument that in a comparison with other regions in Ontario, Whitewater Region council members may be eligible for an increase.
2) Personal Accountability: how well has an individual accomplished what he/ she should have done in his/her accountability as an employee.
3) Corporate Performance: what has the individual done to improve corporate performance. i.e improved the situation in Whitewater Region.
4) Safety Record: how safe have your employees performed in doing their duties .
Unfortunately when you look at all council members, item #1 above, in my opinion, is the only one that might justify an increase.
A) Council is ignoring the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) and Whitewater Region residents by failing to make a real effort to improve Muskrat Lake and development around Muskrat Lake.
B) Council is wasting tax payers’ money by installing active transportation (bicycle) lanes on Grants Settlement Road.
C) Council has not done, and continues to ignore, its responsibility for due diligence on the new Cobden effluent treatment plant by hiring Jp2g without public tender and without proper supervision.
D) The mayor should have declared pecuniary interest in two meetings that BEI had with council but did not.
E) Council gave BEI an hour for their presentations to council when other more important issues only get 15 minutes.
F) council wasted thousands of dollars pursuing two residents to pay dog tags and then dropped it.
For the above reasons I see no reason for an increase in compensation until council members demonstrate that they have earned it.
Further to above, the letter writer added:
If council decides that they should have an increase in remuneration then I suggest the following as a method to determine that increase:
Use Kepner -Tregoe to determine a weighting of each of the criteria shown below:
fiscal responsibility i.e. dog tag lawsuit
due diligence i.e. hiring consultants for Effluent Treatment plant with no RFP.
performance of staff: why was staff numbers increased in comparison to other regions of similar size? Is this because of poor staff performance
safety performance of staff
progress on MOECC requirements to aid in remediation of Muskrat Lake . MOECC have several requirements prior to removal of “at-Capacity” designation for Muskrat Lake.
development in Whitewater Region, increase or decrease?
property values in Whitewater Region? Property values are decreasing around Muskrat Lake
h) bench marking using salaries of similar regions in Ontario with similar population. Use report of last year.
Please feel free to share this email at the meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Since I am out of the country I will not be able to attend the meeting.
Sincerely,
Donald Deer, P. Eng.
Cobden
