The Editor,
Re. "$644 a day is plenty" (The Tri-City News, March 18).
I read with interest the above noted article on compensation for attendance at Metro Vancouver Regional District meetings. It is reported that the per-meeting amount allotted to each attendee is $322 and that it is possible to attend multiple meetings on any given day, therefore attracting double or even triple the $322 amount. Politicians also receive car travel and meal allowances, and if a meeting goes on for more than four hours, they are paid $644. It was also reported that a meeting will take place in April to vote on capping the amount at $644 (hope that one doesn't go longer than four hours).
No wonder utility charges and property taxes are high and on the increase and that the Metro Van yearly increases get little or no resistance from our elected representatives - sounds like a boondoggle to me.
I am of the opinion the $322 per-meeting amount is too high, bearing in mind members of the various city councils who attend these meeting are already receiving a paycheque along with transportation allowance from municipal taxpayers. I hope the individuals concerned are not double-dipping while doing the work they were elected to do.
It should also be noted that Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore is on the Metro Vancouver finance committee, which debated the compensation amounts, and was a recipient of pay for a three-meeting day last year and then had the gall to give himself a 27% pay increase this year. How will he vote?
Henry A. Pritchard, Coquitlam
