Cochrane mayor Truper McBride’s candid style did not disappoint during his monthly meeting with Seniors on the Bow (SOTB) members, addressing several hot-button issues, including firefighter salaries and transit.
Cochrane mayor Truper McBride’s candid style did not disappoint during his monthly meeting with Seniors on the Bow (SOTB) members, addressing several hot-button issues, including firefighter salaries and transit.
After being posed a question from SOTB member and former town councillor Andy Marshall about why the fire department is being labeled the ‘villain’ for increased costs in this year’s budget, McBride was swift to point out that with no increase to the mill rate (amount of tax payable per dollar of the assessed value of one’s property), residents’ taxes would not have seen an increase had it not been for the salary demands of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
“The IAFF is a very strong and aggressive union when dealing with municipalities, ” said McBride, adding the current tax increase of 6.2 per cent is to cover the costs of fire services that the town has offered the union, but could go up if the impending arbitration demands.
McBride divulged that he believes the IAFF is looking to pay its Cochrane firefighters in the $100,000 range per year.
Jared Wallace, local IAFF president, said the union cannot speak to information McBride received regarding a requested salary of $100,000, but that he maintains that number is inaccurate.
“We are asking for fair and reasonable compensation that reflects the dangerous and important work we do, ” said Wallace, “while keeping in mind emerging labour trends in the province, and especially within similar communities. ”
Cochrane firefighters currently make between $67,000 and $70,000.
The mayor also said he feels that if Cochrane residents were aware of the possible salary boost to firefighters, they would be against it, but at the same time added that if people favoured the increase, he would not fight it.
“We need to pay what we think the community and rate-payers can afford, ” said McBride, “This is just too much. ”
McBride, who was accompanied at SOTB by councillor and mayoral candidate Joann Churchill, said that IAFF demands are an Alberta-wide problem right now, and the provincial government has not taken what he sees as a favourable position when it comes to municipalities.
“The wages being sought are in line with other agreements in the local area, ” said Wallace, “and these wages have been freely agreed to at the negotiation table by the municipality and its firefighters, and are not a result of an artificially inflated wage. ”
McBride said the arbitrator does not take into consideration whether a municipality can afford to pay what the IAFF requests, but according to Wallace, the salary the IAFF is looking to receive is not out of line.
“The current pay rates being sought by firefighters in Cochrane, ” explained Wallace, “are in fact lower than most police officers, lower than most construction trades, who have similar levels of education, and nothing higher than what other similar employers have offered to pay their full-time professional firefighters. ”
Other tidbits
Posed a question regarding motorized boats on the Bow River, McBride stated that he felt the waterway should be de-motorized, allowing only non-motorized boats, like canoes and rafts.
Sidewalks will soon grace the south side of Railway Street and north side of Griffin Road. Centre Avenue is to open sometime in June and 4th Ave. will subsequently close.
Addressing his decision not to run in the next election, McBride said he would hopefully be working in a similar role, but would for now stay away from the political forum.
“It will be an interesting day, Oct. 28, walking out of the RancheHouse for the last time. ”
