Council amends its meal expenses policy

On the recommendation of city administration, Chestermere City council approved two amendments to the Elected Officials Remuneration and Expenses policy at the Sept. 17 meeting.

The amendment was made to better align the policy with council's strategic goal of responsible spending. The amendment clarifies that council may only claim meal expenses for events outside of Chestermere where the event does not provide meals to attendees.

The change also sees council's daily non-receipted meal allowance limits streamlined from $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner, which totals $50 to a flat $50 daily non-receipted meal allowance.

In addition to the changes to meal expenses, the provision to adjust council member's pay for unscheduled absences was removed with the intention that city administration will be clarifying council salary adjustments as they relate to extended absences in a separate bylaw that is to be brought before council at a future meeting.