SAINT JOHN, N.B.- It still must be finalized by affected unions, but Common Council is moving forward with reforms to it’s pension plan.

Saint John city council voted to accept the Pension Task Force’s recommendation of a shared risk pension plan for the city of Saint John.

After much debate from city councillors and two of them leaving the chambers due to conflict of interest rules the vote was 5 to 2 with Councillors Donnie Snook and Susan Fullerton voting against the plan.

Mayor Mel Norton told the Monday night meeting he wants to move on and stop talking about the pension issue. “Council, this is a real opportunity for us to change the conversation”. “I would, for one, like to start playing some offence around this community and get stuff done…get roads paved, I’d like to get recreation, I’d like to get water done”.

Jamie Hachey, the president of the Saint John Police Union, says he can see the light at the end of the tunnel. “There’s a lot of language that has to be put to M.O.U but I see this as a very positive step. This has been a matter for eight years and it has weighed on us all. I’m pleased to finally have council members and political leaders that have the vision to embrace something else that emerges from crisis. That’s opportunity.”

Both the police and firefighters union say they are happy to see council vote in favour of the shared risk pension plan.