Council members gave themselves a raise Monday. The increases, 1.5 per cent in 1995 and another 1.5 per cent in 1996, applied proactively rather than retroactively, are the same as municipal staff salary increases given over the past two years. Council members have not had a pay increase since the end of 1993. The increases mean the mayor’s salary will go from $43,550 to $44,203.25 and then $44,866.30. Councillors salaries go from $13,065 to $13,260.98 and $13,459.89. The salary for acting mayor goes from $545 per month to $553.18 per month and then $561.48 per month. Council members also get complimentary access to all recreational facilities operated by the municipality. Municipal hall will undergo renovations, to bring it up to the aesthetic standards established by the new public safety building and the adjacent Town Plaza development. Council Monday allocated $90,000 for renovations, including repair and installation of facia boards, new window trim, creating a new entrance fronting Plaza Square, realigning the disabled access, covering the exposed concrete on the west side of the building with rock facing and repainting the entire building. Cost efficiencies in construction of the public safety building have left the budgeted contingency intact, which will be used for the municipal hall renovations. Garfinkel’s will be on the move to Village North next winter. The popular night club will move to an underground site at the Delta Mont Blanc hotel. Construction of the new hotel is to begin this spring and the first phase is expected to be open in time for next ski season. The new Garfinkel’s could hold as many as 350 people, depending on how the design fits in with the national fire code. The present Garfinkel’s holds less than 190 people. In reviewing the Class C liquor licence application for the night club RCMP advised the municipality that "with more nightclubs comes more policing." Council has asked staff to investigate, with the RCMP, additional ways to disperse patrons from nightclubs and cabarets at night. Building permit fees are going up by 4.5 per cent to adjust for the inflation index for 1994 and 1995.
