Medicine Hat city council votes unanimously for salary transparency in municipal services

At that meeting council requested administration to prepare a list of salary compensation disclosure of other municipalities and to review the risks and benefits of it.

Research found that seven out of 27 municipalities disclose such documentation.

Calgary, Chesteremere, Cochrane, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Wood Buffalo all have formal compensation disclosure lists or practices on their websites.

Ultimately, council voted unanimously for the salary disclosure of municipal services following the recommendations of the administrative committee.

Administration has been advised to prepare a report of salary ranges, from minimum to maximum annual salaries, to be made available on the city’s website no later than July 2.

Discussion

Around the horseshoe, there were discussions regarding disclosing the number of positions in each role, along with salary.

Coun. Shila Sharps posed the question.

“I know that gets everyone uneasy, but we’re talking transparency,” said Sharps.

City Manager Ann Mitchell responded, stating that disclosing the number of positions in each role might induce backlash online.

“One of the concerns is the heightened, really honestly, disrespectful social media presence that we’re dealing with right now and we want to make sure our employees are as safe as possible,” Mitchell said.

“So, we’re trying to be transparent, but also protect the employees.”

Mitchell added that if there is one person in a particular role and their salary is disclosed, the public will know exactly who they are.

Coun. Allison Knodel said she was comfortable with disclosing both salary and title and it’s one way to entice new grads to those positions.

However, she wants council to move forward cautiously when it comes to disclosing more information than that.

“How does this affect the heart of the people that are sometimes confronted by online bullying?” asked Knodel.

Energy salary disclosure

Sharps also questioned why the city’s energy business was being left out of the conversation.

In the request for salary disclosure, it would not include professionals in the energy business unit, but that disclosure will be readdressed after the energy business review is complete.

A city director said they made that decision in case changes were made during the review.

The next regular city council meeting is on June 3. Committee-of-the-whole meets May 28 and 29.

by Lisa Parent

Medicine Hat city council votes unanimously for salary transparency in municipal services

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