Editor,
I am responding to the letters berating Bryan Raiser and other councillors who feel that a pay increase is a reasonable request ["Do your job," "Council work a public service," The Chief, April 9].
Members of council provide a legitimate service during their time in chambers as they deal with the business of the district and make the laws that ensure this town remains a liveable community.
In addition to that time, they field enquiries and take on the issues of their constituents outside of chambers. This would constitute the public service aspect of their jobs.
To expect anyone to sit on council without compensation is not reasonable, and I know for a fact that the current pay scale does keep some incredible prospective candidates from seeking office (eh Cliff?).
If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
Mention was made of the fact that councillors Heintzman and Raiser do not have "regular" jobs. The notion of the "regular" job went away along with Woodfibre and Interfor.
Ms. Heintzman and Mr. Raiser are examples of the modern paradigm that is very common in the Squamish of today.
Both earn a self-made income that allows them to avoid commuting and leaves them ample time to contribute to the community in many ways.
If providing service on council is another way to enable those contributions, they more than deserve to be suitably compensated.
Ross D. Smith
Garibaldi Highlands
