Anyone running for a seat on Vernon council this fall will know what they’ll get paid. A citizens’ committee will review remuneration for the mayor and councillors elected Nov. 19. “We try and come up with an unbiased committee that can look at this,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer. The committee will consist of three members of the public, with at least one having previous elected municipal government experience. The committee will examine data from similar-sized communities and other relevant information before presenting a recommendation to current council. If the recommendation includes a change in pay, that change does not come into effect until the Jan. 1 following the civic election year. A remuneration policy, including the citizens’ review, was initiated a few years ago so existing council members are not determining their salary. Coun. Bob Spiers doesn’t believe there is a need for elected officials to earn more. “I’m quite happy with the current base pay which allows for a cost of living increase annually,” he said. Presently, the base pay is $63,466.00 annually for the mayor and $20,473 annually each for the six councillors. In addition to this, each council member receives $137 per committee meeting they attend.
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Don Quixote Note: The base pay and any meeting pay claimed is 1/3 tax free. The committee meeting pay of $137 per meeting was approved by the Council in Sept of 2009 despite the unanimous vote of the last Council to accept Mr McGrath's minority report of a Cost of living increase only in October of 2008 prior to the last municipal election. Council members do not automatically get the $137 meeting pay, they must claim it.
See Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Politicians pocket pay hike for Minority Report Details
1 comment:
Like all committee's they will sit down to design a horse and as usual end up with a camel.
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