A policy designed to encourage Regional District of Central Kootenay staff to use alternative means of getting to work won’t result in them getting extra pay.
Chair John Kettle says judging from a recent letter to a local newspaper, it appears some interpreted it to mean staff would receive a bonus if they biked, bused, or car pooled.
“That was never the intent,” Kettle says. “It wasn’t worded correctly when we passed it. We want people to ride to work, but we want them to do it for the right reasons.”
The RDCK has set aside up to $10,000 to make it easier for staff to choose alternative transportation, but hasn’t decided how the money will be spent.
Kettle insists, however, that it won’t be used to line anyone’s pockets.
“It could be that whichever group of employees has the best record of car pooling or bike riding gets a free pass at our rec centres. We could use our own facilities to promote it.”
It was also suggested the money might be spent on building bike shelters, although Nelson Mayor John Dooley scoffed at the idea: “Who needs a shelter for a bike?”