Continuation Of The Theme

I found more stuff in the course of my inquiry;

The Region has an agreement with municipalities whereby regional council salaries are paid jointly with municipal and the region compensates the municipality.

There appears to be no regional policy on conference allowances. It could not be discovered. Of course, we know that doesn't mean there are no conference allowances. Just that there are no limits on what a Councillor can spend. Regional Councillors tend to go places like China and Australia.

Cost of the off-site orientation conferences were also not discovered. We know they have them. The Mayor asked once for Council authority to attend the first one.We believe they are regular events.

I inquired of our new Treasurer about the Mayor's salary. Last time I checked with Tim Jones it was about $50,000 . Councillors' salary increases each year. Including mileage allowance, it was about $24,000. last year. Up about $2,000. in four years. Going by percentages I assume the Mayor's salary from the town might be $65,000. Can't say for sure. The new Treasurer wouldn't tell me.A Councillor has a right to that information.

So, council salary cheques and conference cheques are prepared for all members of council in the town treasury. Only the Mayor receives employee benefits. Regional conference allowances are a secret.Only the Mayor receives severance in the event of defeat or retirement.

Think of that; if six people are defeated in the next election , one only will receive a severance cheque from the town's treasury.

In the budget this year, Council voted to reduce the conference budget. Councillor Gaertner made the motion, from $27,000. to $10,000. The conference allowance for staff wasn't even mentioned.

The Mayor commented the Association of Municipalities Conference is in Toronto this year so Councillors don't need to stay in a hotel.

The Mayor attended the conference in Ottawa last year. Windsor was doing everything they could to encourage people to come to the conference in their city next year . Windsor, is in serious economic trouble.

Toronto withdrew from membership in the Association a couple of years ago. It is exceedingly unlikely, they will ever be chosen again as the host city for the conference.

So back to the issue. It rather looks like the Mayor's salary is $115,000 with over $10,000
in employee benefits and an unlimited conference allowance.

At the same time, on the same payroll, a Councillor's salary is $24,000 a year, no employee benefits and this year, two- thirds cut in the conference allowance.There's a little box in the corner of the pay slip which appears to indicate an hourly wage of $7.50.

The Mayor's famous Code of Ethics requires Councillors to attend conferences and take advantage of whatever opportunities present to educate and keep themselves up-to-date in order to fulfill our function properly.

Did I say...it was Councillor Gaertner who moved to reduce the allowance. With the Mayor vociferously in wholehearted support.