by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — A proposed by-law for changes to remuneration for council members of the Township of Whitewater Region was approved by the majority of council – Councillor Daryl McLaughlin voted against it.
This same proposal will be discussed at a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the municipal council chambers.
Coun. McLaughlin said it appears there are parts missing to this bylaw that he was expecting to see in it.
“We’ve worked on this before and there are parts that are missing from other discussions,” he said at last night’s corporate services committee meeting.
Councillor Charlene Jackson said the changes were discussed at previous meetings, however, nothing was brought to council by by-law.
Treasurer Marsha Hawthorne reviewed previous minutes and council videos so everything discussed could be incorporated into the by-law, she added.
Coun. McLaughlin felt the board appointments would be dealt with under remuneration.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said the appointment to boards and committees is not in this proposed by-law, as that is a different issue. Whatever a board pays to its members, whether they be council members or not, is up to them, and is not to be considered in the honourarium paid by council, he explained.
Coun. McLaughlin said, “We worked on this an awful lot before the CAO came here. Things have been changed.”
He also questioned about what each council member receives while attending a conference. He realizes the proposed by-law reads each person receives $100 a day up to four days while at a conference. He questioned if this includes travel days.
Coun. Jackson said it doesn’t matter what four days the council member uses.
Coun. McLaughlin was also concerned with the meal allowance. He thought there was going to be a flat rate since sometimes meals are included with the conference registration.
Mayor Hal Johnson said, “All of the items have been approved by majority vote of council.”
Councillor Chris Olmstead said he is comfortable with the proposed by-law.
“I don’t think it has to go back for review,” he said.
Prior to the vote taken by council for approval, Coun. McLaughlin said, “I’m very confused between what’s being said and what’s written.”
The Recommendations
The mayor’s annual honourarium will increase to $20,000 from $17,453 and the reeve/councillors’ honourariums increased to $15,244 from $10,485. This amount for reeve/councillors includes the $1,800 paid to each chair person of a standing committee.
Mayor, reeve and councillors will each receive a convention allotment of $4,000 each year and a reimbursement of $100 per day up to a maximum of four days per year.
The mileage rate is now 54 cents per km for the first 5,000 kilometres and then 48 cents per kilometre after that. Previously, council members were paid 50 cents per kilometres.
Meal allowance within Renfrew County is $45 a day, broken down to $12, $13 and $20 for breakfast, lunch and supper. Outside of Renfrew County, the amount is $85, with the breakdown being $14, $21 and $40, respectively.
As well, the mayor will receive a miscellaneous expense amount of $700 per year while the reeve and councillors will each receive $500 per year.
A public meeting will be held prior to final consideration of this bylaw at its Feb. 15 council meeting.
