Residents here have ended up shelling out nearly $200,000 to resolve pay equity issues dating back several years.
Over half of those costs are related to consultant and legal fees and they have been paid over several years.
Following a lengthy in-camera session at the end of the Feb. 8 meeting, councillors received a report from Town Manager Lisa Hass and approved the pay equity report’s recommendations.
The report from Hass stated that in 2004, the town engaged the services of McDowall Associates to review its compensation systems generally and its pay equity processes more specifically.
The consultant proceeded to work with the town to develop a new pay equity plan that was posted July 1, 2005. Subsequent to that posting, five individuals filed objections with the plan.
After a six year process, an order was issued to the town.
That resulted in three people receiving pay equity compensation in the total amount of $83,800.
The compensation issues related to benefits that were provided to a male position were deemed to have pay equity adjustments.
Consultants and legal costs totaled $110,438 – and did not include staff time.
Hass said all costs were budgeted for and paid, resulting in no tax impacts for 2012.
