FAS-027 - Council Professional Development Policy_2023
Title: FAS-027 Mayor & Council Professional Development
Subject: FAS-027 Mayor & Council Professional Category: Finance and Administrative Services
Development Policy
Policy No.: FAS-027 M&C Report No.: M&C 2023-164
Effective Date: June 19, 2023 Next Review Date:
Area(s) this policy applies to: Mayor & Council Office Responsible for review of this Policy:
Finance and Administrative Services
Related Instruments: Policy Sponsors:
Chief Financial Officer
Document Pages:
This document consists of 4 pages.
Revision History:
Policy Date: 2022-10-03 Report: M&C 2022-312
Common Clerk's Annotation for Official Record
Date of Passage of Current Framework: June 19, 2023
I certify that this Policy was adopted by Common Council as indicated
above.
______June 21, 2023____
Common Clerk Date
Date Created: Common Council Approval Date: Contact:
2022-10-03 June 19, 2023 Finance and Administrative Services
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. POLICY STATEMENT.................................................................................................. . 2
2. ELIGIBILITY ................................................................................................................. 2
3. BUDGET ALLOCATION…………………………………………………………………………………………….… 3
4. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................................ 3
City of Saint John
M ayor & Council Professional
Development Policy
1. POLICY STATEMENT
1.1 This policy applies to the City of Saint John Mayor and Common Council on eligible
professional development expenditures.
1.2 The City of Saint John is committed to encouraging professional development for
the Mayor and Common Council, recognizing the investment is inextricably linked
to the achievement of its mission, strategic direction, and governance.
1.3 This policy provides the guidelines for approving Mayor and Common Council
professional development requests to attend supported professional development
opportunities on behalf of the City of Saint John.
1.4 Professional development expenditures shall be in the best interest of City of Saint
John taxpayers and involves the development of knowledge, skills, and leadership
qualities necessary for the effective duties of Mayor and Council.
1.5 Professional development also includes activities specific to legislative and
governance roles and functions.
1.6 A Councillor who is funded by Council budget to attend a conference, seminar,
forum, delegation, or similar event shall participate as a representative of Council,
not as an individual.
1.7 The City’s Annual Report shall list Mayor & Council professional development.
1.8 Council may request a verbal or written report from any member of Council
following the professional development activity.
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Eligible activities, processes and programs including attendance at external
professional development courses and conferences, sessions conducted with guest
speakers and training, and purchases of training booklets and discussion papers
must meet the following criteria:
2.1.1 Must be relevant to the Mayor or Councilor’s role on Council or as a
Committee Chair.
2.1.2 Must be relevant to the municipal governance process
2.1.3 Must be a conference or course offered or sponsored by an officially
recognized group to which the City or its representatives are a member, or
where there is a demonstrable affiliation.
2
City of Saint John
M ayor & Council Professional
Development Policy
3. BUDGET ALLOCATION
3.1 Common Council shall approve the Mayor and Council professional development
budget as part of the annual operating budget approval process.
3.2 Mayor and Council professional development budget allocations shall be subject to
annual review as part of the annual operating budget process.
3.3 Mayor and Council professional development budgets shall align with the strategic
priorities of Common Council.
3.4 The professional development budget shall be allocated up to a maximum of $3,000
per Councilor and $9,000 for the Mayor.
3.4.1 Cost to attend the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
conference shall be exempted from this policy for Council appointees.
3.5 Unused professional development budgets shall not be carried forward to the
following budget year.
3.6 Professional development spend that exceeds the annual approved budget
envelope or exceeds the Councilor allocation limit in subsection 3.4 shall be:
3.6.1 Approved by Common Council
3.6.2 Be within the overall Council budget envelope for professional development
3.6.3 Reduced from the Councilor’s following year allocation to ensure fairness
and equity.
3.7 Common Council shall comply with the Council approved Travel Policy FAS-025 with
respect to eligible travel expenses such as accommodations, meals, and travel
arrangements.
4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 Common Council shall:
4.1.1 Approve the Mayor & Council professional development policy and any
amendments to the policy.
4.1.2 Approve Councilor requests that exceed maximum limits in the policy
4.2 The City Clerk shall:
3
City of Saint John
M ayor & Council Professional
Development Policy
4.2.1 Ensure compliance with the Professional Development Policy
4.3 The Chief Financial Officer shall:
4.3.1 Support compliance through periodic audits.
4.3.2 Include Mayor and Council professional development in the City’s annual
report.
4