An external review board will initiate a research study about regional district directors' remuneration in the fall, the CVRD board approved Tuesday. A report will be finalized next spring, after which the board may choose to adopt any changes.
In keeping with a bylaw, an independent review of director remuneration, allowances and benefits must be conducted every six years with the first to be completed in 2012.
Director pay has increased by 5.25 per cent since 2007. Effective Jan. 1, the CVRD board chair remuneration is $33,161. Electoral area directors receive $20,709 and municipal directors $10,377.
In a 2006 review of the Comox Strathcona Regional District, Chris Green and Associates compared annual compensations in eight regional districts and three municipalities where directors perform similar activities. The review cost about $30,000.
"The current Comox Valley Regional District director and meeting remuneration is comparable to other regional districts in the province," CVRD chief administrative officer Debra Oakman states in a report to the board.
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The board approved $75,000 for the Comox Valley housing task force to develop programs to build community capacity. The purpose of the body is to carry forward ideas from the Housing and Homelessness Standing Committee. Courtenay representative Larry Jangula opposed the funding recommendation.
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Mary Ashley, co-chair of the Island Corridor Foundation, said a "big thank you" to directors for being the first district board on the Island to offer its support to help restore E&N passenger rail service. She appeared before the board after Premier Christy Clark announced provisional funding to repair the track that runs between Victoria and Courtenay.
Ashley said Tuesday was "probably for us the most important day since we acquired the railway."
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The CVRD will enter into a services agreement with the Denman WORKS! Economic Enhancement Society. The CVRD provided the society $40,600 this year.
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The CVRD will send a letter to the B.C. Gaming Commission to support the Comox Valley Marine Rescue Society's grant application to replace the Bruce Brown.
"The funds would be placed in our New Vessel account as we have been told we will have to replace the Bruce Brown and have begun our fundraising towards the $550,000 required," society president Jim Brass states in a letter to the board.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com