Taxpayers not paying for retreat: Peary
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Updated: November 05, 2009 10:19 AM
Some of city hall’s top bureaucrats have left their offices this week for a retreat in the U.S., but according to Abbotsford Mayor George Peary, it won’t be taxpayers footing the bill.
Peary said six heads of city hall departments, including city manager Frank Pizzuto, flew to Phoenix on Tuesday for the four-day trip in which they were expected to discuss work-related issues.
“These guys make a good living, and the city is not paying a penny of it,” said Peary. “This is all their personal leave time and it’s not city money.”
Peary said Pizzuto approached him and made the request. And while he described it as “unusual” for numerous department heads to be absent at the same time, he said there is adequate cover for any city business that may arise this week.
He was not aware of any similar requests having been made in the past.
“Frank asked me ‘can I have this, providing we do not spend any money?’ It is at their personal expense, and fair enough,” Peary said. “From my perspective, I think it’s worth giving them the time to get away and look at some of the issues the city is facing.”
The group is expected to arrive back in Abbotsford on either Friday or Saturday.
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