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Old Posted Mar 30, 2012, 4:15 AM
CaptainKirk CaptainKirk is offline
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Quote:
Beneath all the open talk of censuring, councillors have secretly asked staff for a report on the propriety of the $8,000 vacation payout that elevated Bratina’s chief of staff, Peggy Chapman, on to the 2011 sunshine list.

That, of course, is the pebble which set the rippling events in motion leading to the unparalleled censuring of a Hamilton mayor for unbecoming conduct.

The direction to staff was apparently given during an in-camera session following Tuesday’s budget deliberations.

It seems councillors want an explanation of the $8,000 payout, how the figure was arrived at and whether the conditions and circumstances breached or accorded with city policies.

According to city policy, nonunionized employees can receive payouts for unused vacation time if it’s approved by a manager and only in certain “extenuating circumstances” such as long-term illness and absence.

Bratina, citing privacy rights, initially refused to explain how the extenuating circumstances applied in Chapman’s case.

But in a subsequent email to senior Spectator managers, the mayor suggested the payout stems from Chapman cancelling booked time off because of the December news coverage of her $30,000 raise.

Councillors are looking for clarity on whether that meets the policy bar and how many vacation days Chapman had owing. In other words, do the numbers add up and what exactly was she entitled to?

Some of that information is contained in Chapman’s employment contract with Bratina. Presumably that’s what senior staff will investigate and report on in camera next week.
http://thespec.com/2012/03/censure-s...yet-.html#more
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