The idea of having a full-time mayor position in Sylvan Lake was met with mixed reaction from Sylvan Lake town council Monday night.
Ed Grose of H/R Outlook presented to councillors the findings of a report examining the roles and responsibilities of the mayor in Sylvan Lake, and the possible expansion of the position to full-time status.
A role profile created in the process of compiling the report may be the first of its kind, said Grose, whose attempts to obtain similar profiles from other municipalities were unsuccessful.
Key responsibilities outlined in the role profile wouldn’t be different for a full-time mayor, he explained. Work volume and scope would, however.
Grose told councillors that of the 13 communities with populations within 5,000 of Sylvan Lake, 11 have part-time mayors. Two — Chestermere and Brooks — have full-time mayors.
The report showed that six municipalities with a population larger than that of Sylvan Lake have a part-time mayor.
Remuneration offered by Chestermere and Brooks was shown at $60,000 and $62,908, respectively.
Sylvan Lake councillors were appreciative of the report’s findings, but had doubts as to whether the town was ready to move to such a position.
“The appropriate time to make a change like this is before the next election,” said Coun. Matt Prete, who suggested looking into ways of allowing future mayoral candidates flexibility in choosing to work either part-time or full-time.
Coun. Jas Payne agreed.
“There’s a lot more thinking and discussion that needs to go on ... I just don’t see us being in that position yet,” he said.
Coun. Graham Parsons felt the report’s findings could prove advantageous for the town in the future.
“We have to take into consideration that we’re growing faster than everyone else,” he said. “The report gives us a good basis moving forward.”
Councillors accepted the report as information.