City council addresses succession planning
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on June 27, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com City council is going to be looking at succession planning which includes potential renumeration for members who aren’t re-elected or choose not to run for re-election after their terms end.Council voted unanimously to have City administration bring back to the Governance Standing Policy Committee in July initial reports and policy examples to guide the creation of a succession planning policy for municipal elected officials for consideration by council no later than the fourth quarter of this year.
The motion also calls for the policy to consider such things as duties of remaining councillors, remuneration, selection of mayor, deputy mayor, acting mayor and any other applicable considerations should any member of council be unable to carry out their duties or complete their term of office after a by-election has been deemed necessary or until one can be held.
The motion also asks that a “transition allowance” for all council members be considered as part of this or a separate policy.
“Succession planning, crisis management, future planning, and planning in general
should be top of mind for any organization,” says the OBM, noting that the City’s procedure bylaw will need amendments due to the province’s new Bill 20. It adds that Calgary, Edmonton, Strathcona County and the rural municipality of Wood Buffalo “provide benefits, pension plans, and/or severance allowance to their elected officials.”
Several reasons for given for the motion by Carlson, one which came up as mayor Blaine Hyggen left on a recent trip. Under current rules, if the mayor was unable to complete his term in office, his role of deputy mayor would be rotated among council members for the remainder of that term with no extra renumeration.
And Carlson pointed out that Hyggen has a full schedule, one which is even busier than that of council members.
He also stated, asking media without explanation to take note, that mayor and council receive no severance package, no employment insurance benefits and no pension when they leave office.
He told council while previously, a council member could hold a second job in addition to council duties, that is no longer possible.
Bill 20, also known as the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, sets rules for local elections and municipal councils “to enhance integrity and maintain public trust.”
The Local Authorities Election Act component of the Act establishes the framework for the conduct of elections in school divisions, irrigation districts and Metis settlements as well as municipalities.
The Municipal Government Act component establishes rules of conduct for locally elected officials once they are on council and the “the overall administration and operation of municipal authorities in Alberta,” says the province. 3
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