Council votes down request for staff report on pension plan
Posted Sep 6, 2017 06:12:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – A controversial pension proposal has been shut down by a vote of 13-3 by regional council after being brought to the table by Coun. David Hendsbee.
The 20-year councillor and former provincial MLA was asking for a staff report on pensions for councillors who didn’t have enough information to opt in, and now want to do so with the HRM matching contributions.
He told council it would cost him $31,000 per year of service to buy back into the plan and was hoping a staff report would not only help future councillors learn about the process, but help get half of that approximately $500,000.
Three councillors did vote in favour of the report. Bill Karsten said the report didn’t mean the city was immediately going to hand over the money to Hendsbee.
But 13 councillors did not agree, including Coun. Lisa Blackburn.
“No way, no how, not on my watch,” said Blackburn. “You have my sympathy, but not my support on this.”
Hendsbee said he’s received criticism on a number of sides for his proposal but said he has not been a drain on the taxpayer since taking office.
Coun. Shawn Cleary said he believed that voting for the report was essentially saying to the public that we’re okay with taxpayers supporting the poor financial planning of its elected officials.
