At its March 19 meeting, Sechelt council released an in-camera resolution to "endorse a compensation adjustment of three per cent for exempt salaried employees and council effective Jan. 1, 2014."
Mayor John Henderson confirmed the adjusted increased salaries for councillors and affected employees.
Bethel tabled
Some nearby neighbours of Bethel Baptist Church came to council March 19 to voice their opposition to the church's renovation plan.
They said the new higher roofline of the church would block views and complained of not enough time to get their comments into the District before council considered approving the development variance permit needed for the renovations.
While council considered granting the variance permit, Coun. Alice Lutes asked to table the issue.
"I think we should give the church and the neighbourhood a chance to have some discussions that aren't under so much pressure and then come back to us with any decisions," Lutes said.
All but Henderson were in favour of tabling, so the motion carried.
Buchhorn bonus
Chief of innovation and growth Ron Buchhorn was away on vacation when news of his bonus was released from in-camera at the March 19 council meeting.
Henderson said Buchhorn is entitled to a bonus of $25,000 per annum. He was awarded his bonus "based on service in 2013."
Henderson noted, "he joined us at the end of April, so it's prorated."
Buchhorn was also among the non-union employees who received a bonus for a job well done after the strike of unionized employees at the District ended in July 2013.
That bonus amounted to somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000, Henderson said at the time.
