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"But the program is only as good as its benchmarks." Though Winshare, which has been described as a reward program for city employees who have conâ€" tributed to the savings of tax dollars, has been in effect since 1996, public controâ€" versy arose recently when bonus cheques averaging about $550 each were disâ€" tributed to most workers in the recreation and leisure department, which ran up a deficit of over $500,000 last year. "Overall Winshare is a wonderful idea," explained Steven Gadbois, a member of the COMPARE committee which has spent the last two years analyzing the proâ€" gram. "It creates efficiencies in â€" a _ businessâ€"minded aspect. It‘s also very unique in the public sector. core one for Winshare. Sln light of the recent controversy surroundâ€" ing the City of Waterloo‘s employee incentive proâ€" gram known as Winshare, a committee of the public determined in principle Tuesday morning that the concept of allocating budget surplus funds to all city employees in the form of bonus cheques should not be scrapped, just monitored more closely. Keep Winshare, committee recommends With a surplus of $1.3 By Anorea Bacey Chronicle Staff _ AN King Street South. Waterion 8889200 * 56 George‘s Square, Guelph 821â€"7982 Enjoy some very sweet savings on specialty selected items! Rings, earrings, watches, necklaces, pears, bracelets and more... all On Sale. Hurry In â€" sale ends September 30th. KNAR JEWELLERY At that time Coun. Lynne Woolstencroft, who made the motion, also asked for a financial analysis of the budâ€" get process to prove budget estimates have not been "padded", and a comparison In July, Waterloo council passed a motion to have city staff undertake an internal review of the noted deficit and report the findings to council in August; and conâ€" duct an inâ€"depth examinaâ€" tion and analysis of the proâ€" gram addressing its benefits and disadvantages to taxâ€" payers, the possible savings it‘s provided taxpayers, and the city‘s view on the proâ€" "What people have to realize is that nothing stays the same, and that no proâ€" gram is ever perfect," explained Terry Reidel, the city‘s official financial audiâ€" tor. "But once you set the rules of the program, you have to stick to those rules. Everyone knew the rules going in." Since the decision was made to reward even those in recreation and leisure, some members of council have admitted to having secâ€" ond thoughts on the ruling. million coming out of the latest budget process, many taxpayers have questioned whether the employees who received a portion of the $215,000, or 20 per cent of the surplus, were deserving of it. Esgm. 1/ the };_esf" "As bad as the (recreation and leisure) deficit was, I think it really opened our eyes," added Coun. Bruce Anderson. "Now that we know what the rules are, we are dealing with it properly." Mayor Joan McKinnon also pointed out that such a program is often necessary to retain the talent and knowledge the city has Those _ measurements include looking at employee contribution in the areas of finance, process improveâ€" ment, customer satisfaction and skills development. "You should not get rid of the program, but go after significant variances and follow the rules." "I think we made a misâ€" take, but you learn from it," said Coun. Mike Connolly. Roger Gratl, another member of the COMPARE committee, also said it‘s imperative the city is rigorâ€" ous with its budgeting and measurements where Winshare is concerned. She also said the city should develop a review process of the public comâ€" munication strategy around Winshare, with further recâ€" ommendations for better communication | in _ the future, and a schedule of public information meetâ€" ings about the program. "You really have to look at the details," Gratl said. of staff salaries among the city‘s peer municipalities. "To retain our people, we have to come up with some very inventive incentive proâ€" grams. Otherwise we will lose them to other organizaâ€" tions which do offer such incentives." review the program over the next month, and is expected to make a formal recomâ€" mendation to council in midâ€"October. "Philosophically this is a good idea," she said, "keepâ€" ing good people by having a good base. After all, the city‘s only as good as the staff." "It‘s very difficult to critiâ€" cize the Winshare program," Reidel added. "You have to offer something to the employees when they share in the savings, period. found within its employees continue to *Network Installation *Fullâ€"Ser vice Consulting «Web Hosting »Computer Training * Searchable Business Directory! *Free Classified Ads! *@News and Info about your community! #3 â€" 10 regina street n. (519) 886.1099 www .madnefter.com madnefter@madneltfercom the mad nefter