Bert Johnston has 36 years unbroken service as a councillor
TWO of Fermanagh’s longest serving, and most respected councillors have said they will not stand for re-election to the new Fermanagh and Omagh council, which will make them eligible for the newly introduced councillor severance scheme.
SDLP’s John O’Kane, who has served two extended periods on the council said he feels now is the right time to hand over to somebody else while DUP councillor Bert Johnston said he thinks he would need to go – ‘the birthdays are there’ he quipped.
“I think it’s a very appropriate time to go – with the setting up of a new council” commented councillor O’Kane who said he will happily serve until the new council is fully operational in 2015 but then he intends to stand down and let someone ‘young and keen’ take over his role.
Having served as a councillor from 1981 to 1997 and again from 2001 to date John O’Kane will now be eligible for a payout of in excess of £24,000 for his long service to the county.
John O’Kane explains that from 1973 up to 1998 all councillors got was expenses for attending meetings – they didn’t get any sort of salary so part of the reason behind this scheme is to recognise that. After that councillors received an annual salary which amounts to about £9000 per year.
Bert Johnston said he will certainly be standing down, saying he feels it’s ‘time to go’.
Councillor Johnston is the longest serving Fermanagh councillor with 36 years unbroken service from 1977 to date.
He said he is ‘quite pleased’ with the severance scheme saying that the payout – which for him could be closer to £30,000 – would be most welcome.
“I enjoyed my time on the council, I enjoyed the work and I hope I helped people as much as possible,” he continued saying he might even retire at the end of this year not waiting until the council amalgamation.
Severance will be calculated at a set amount per year, i.e. from 30 May 1973 to 21 May 1998 at £1000 per year and from 22 May 1998 to the date of the councillor’s resignation at £600 per year.
To be eligible for the scheme a councillor must have served a minimum period of 12 years (cumulatively), and a cap on individual payments of £35,000.
Launching the scheme Environment Minister, Alex Attwood said it is designed to recognise long-serving councillors who will not be standing for re-election next year.
“Elections to the 11 new councils will take place in 2014 and there will be 120 fewer seats than at present.
“Many of our long-serving councillors will not be standing for re-election.
These are councillors who worked hard for their communities and made a significant contribution to their communities when civil and political unrest was at its height.”
Talking about his time as a councillor at the height of the Troubles the councillor said, “It was very difficult to get people to stand as councillors during the Troubles. At one stage I even tried not to be nominated – it wouldn’t have been a lot of people’s cup of tea. The Minister has recognised that.”
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