A pay hike for the council of Whitewater Region Township is under review.
A bylaw for the township states that there be an annual increase equal to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for council.
Chief administrative officer Christine FitzSimons said in order there be proper maintenance of council’s remuneration, there be an adjustment each year equal to the CPI. The increase for this year would be 2.4 per cent, she noted at last Wednesday’s council meeting.
Currently Mayor Hal Johnson is receiving $16,875 each year; while Reeve Terry Millar and the five councillors each receive $10,138.
The 2.4 per cent increase would see the mayor’s honourarium raise to $17,280 and the reeve and councillors each receiving $10,381.
In the current bylaw, it notes the bylaw should be reviewed at a public meeting at least once every four years.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin recalled the honourarium discussion happening about eight years ago.
Previous to setting an honourarium and increase based on the CPI, council members were paid for each meeting they attended, he said. He suggested an in-depth discussion take place this year and the updated bylaw presented at this meeting be tabled.
“It wasn’t passed last year until June,” he said. “We’ve reduced council as well and nothing was done. There also seems to be an awful lot more meetings than when this was first decided.”
Councillor Charlene Jackson said with almost a new council, now would be a good time to review the bylaw.
She noted the pay scale for Whitewater council is low compared to other municipalities.
It was agreed to table the motion to increase the pay and to have the honourariums discussed at a corporate services committee meeting.
