This article is from page 4 of the 2006-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
SENIOR executives at Clare County Council can expect up to €72,000 in bonus payments over the coming year. The council agreed to allow a sum, which reflects ten per cent of seven of its official’s wages, to be set aside for such payments. The officials to benefit from the €72,000 allocation include the county manager and the six director of services in the council.
The county manager told councillors that the allocation set aside is to “make sure there is enough there” to cover any bonuses paid.
Cllr Tom Prenderville asked the manager if he was “expecting an increase in activity and productivity” that the bonus payments could reach that amount.
It is as yet unknown when the payments will be paid, but the manager assured the councillors that no section of the public sector is monitored like his sector. The councillors agreed to a €3,500 increase in the mayors allowance to €33,500 at a special budget meeting of the council. Council members expenses for the year has been budgeted at €221,000, while their salleries will cost the council €522,199.
Meanwhile Clare County Council agreed to drop a controversial charge on the collection of recyclables, which would have earned the council a further €70,000. The members of the council objected to the proposal within the budget, which stated, “It would be necessary to introduce a small charge for waste at the recycling facilities for waste other than WEE”.
The council executive did a u turn on the proposal following objections from the members saying that adding a cost to recycling would discourage people from doing so.
The County Manager also expressed concern that while the cost of landfill is reducing, the collectors are not reflecting the reduction in their costs.