The District of Lantzville is about to grow its staffing department.
Lantzville councillors unanimously authorized hiring a full-time labourer on Monday night. The only additional cost to the district will be benefits and the position won’t be filled until councillors approve the 2017-18 financial plan, which will take place later this year.
Coun. Mark Swain said based on discussions from a committee of the whole meeting earlier this year, there is no reason why a labourer shouldn’t be hired full-time.
“There is a need for this position to become full-time,” he said. “The work is there.”
Councillors also approved staff’s recommendation to hire Lynda Sowerby as the full-time temporary deputy director of financial services. Sowerby will begin her duties within the coming month and will remain on staff until December of 2017.
The decision to hire Sowerby comes on the heels of a staff report that highlighted various reasons for needing an extra person in the finance department. One the issues raised in the report was that the district is currently in the middle of an ongoing financial system review, which has already uncovered the mobile home parcel tax issue, that must be completed by the end of 2017.
Her salary is expected to be $108,000, including benefits.