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Red Deer city council keeps council recognition gift policy

Some councillors say it’s ‘meaningful’
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(Advocate file photo).

An attempt to end the practice of giving recognition gifts to Red Deer city councillors after their elections and as they are leaving office was defeated on Monday.

Councillors Cindy Jefferies, Victor Doerksen and Kraymer Barnstable were the only ones who favoured discontinuing the tradition of giving two gifts to incoming and outgoing councillors. (Coun. Dianne Wyntjes was absent and didn’t vote.)

Jefferies didn’t support Council’s Recognition Policy, saying she doesn’t need a gift for serving the people of Red Deer. She wasn’t comfortable with council having a gift policy when the same wasn’t extended to city staff and said she would be content to have a farewell dinner when her time on council was done, instead of a gift.

But Mayor Ken Johnston and Coun. Vesna Higham were among those who spoke about how their city council rings were meaningful to them. Higham said citizens often notice and comment on her council ring, while Johnston compared the gifts to a recognition plaque he received while working as a bank manager.

He said looking at the plaque helped get him through some difficult days by reminding him that his efforts were worthwhile and appreciated.

In an effort to cap rising costs, a gold pin with the City of Red Deer’s logo was suggested as the in-coming gift, instead of a ring that could cost up to $2,400. The pin would have a top value of $500.

“The overall net effect of this change would be a reduced financial cost to The City of Red Deer,” said Colin Connon, council’s research, policy and council administration specialist.

The new policy wouldn’t apply to any sitting members of council, but only those who are elected in the next election.