-Flintoft says clerical error responsible for discrepancy in expense figures-

OSOYOOS TIMES-December 19, 2007-

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

Coun. Dick Flintoft wanted to clarify last week that when, at a council meeting on Dec. 3, he said councillors' expenses were included in their remuneration, he was referring to local travelling costs.
For out-of-town business, the Town is responsible, Flintoft said. We go to the Town to acquire additional expenses.
These additional expenses primarily include the costs of transportation and lodgings.
A Dec. 5 Osoyoos Times article reporting council's plan to review its remuneration evoked a letter to the editor from one member of the community lambasting Flintoft's statement and taking issue with the council salaries that were presented.
The article put the mayor's salary at $21,352 and councillors' salaries at $14,187. It should be noted that these are base salaries, and that council members receive a sum of $100 a day for attending out-of-town meetings.
The letter accurately put Mayor John Slater's total pay for the period of Dec. 1, 2005 to Nov. 31, 2006 at $24,120.95; Coun. Allan Carswell's at $14,867.89; Coun. Ted Cronmiller's at $15,267.89, Coun. Dick Flintoft's at $14,667.89 and Coun. Stu Wells at $15,267.89.
However, the letter put Slater's expenses for that period at $16,140.32; Carswell's at $1,800.74; Cronmiller's at $3,199.61; Flintoft's at $5,877.26; and Wells' at $3,916.01.
Flintoft explained that these values were incorrect, and that in the first draft of that document there had been typographical errors by Town staff.
He's using all these false figures, he said. It was dually noted in council that it was incorrect.
Flintoft produced the corrected document that had been drawn up by Town staff after the mistakes in the original were realized.
The document placed Slater's expenses for the period at $11,601.45, Flintoft's at $2,530.70. The other expense values remained the same.
At Monday's meeting, remuneration numbers for the period of Dec. 1, 2006 to Nov. 31, 2007 were received by council.
Slater made $23,407 and had $8,625 in expenses; Carswell made $15,357 and had $5,082 in expenses; Cronmiller made $15,757 and had $6,304 in expenses; Flintoft made $15,157 and had $4,256 in expenses and Wells made $15,657 and had $5,176 in expenses.