It is a long road here to deal with something as simple as mileage.
On May 15, councillor John Brennan brought a motion to council that reflected what up until then was the practice in Erin; to forego claiming mileage for business within the municipality.
His motion recommended staff and council be paid at the Canada Revenue Agency compensation rate while on town-related business, but elected municipal representatives would not be reimbursed mileage costs for business in town – except in special circumstances after a resolution of council to authorize such an expense for a particular event.
Brennan was clear the motion was to bring the town’s personnel policy in line with past practice in which councillors claimed mileage only for travel outside municipal borders.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger saw no need to change what is currently in place.
“It hasn’t been an issue in the past, and I don’t see it being an issue in the future,” she said.
Brennan’s motion, however, met with considerable resistance from Mayor Lou Maieron. In March, the mayor proposed council should get mileage to deal with council business in the municipality as well.
First, Maieron wanted to know if the mileage policy was ever given to new members of council. His answer was that it had not, nor was it in the binder presented to new councillors.
While he had been told councillors did not get in-town mileage, the existing town policy did not prohibit it.
“The pertinent question as I’ve deciphered it is – am I an employee of the Town of Erin?” Maieron asked.
Based on his reasons, Maieron said he is. He considered himself as working for the municipality on a fixed four-year contract renewable by the shareholders of the corporation (voters), as he is paid a salary, and receives benefits – like other staff.
He agreed his contract includes attending two council meetings per month, but since they would be considered the workplace, he would not be paid mileage for that.
“I consider myself an employee, or rather the CEO of the municipality,” and as such he did not believe he should not be restricted from something which “the most lowly employee” would get.
“In most cases, the executives get more perks – not less,” Maieron said. He then questioned Brennan’s motivation for the motion.
“Is it to save money, or to impose your principals on the rest of council?” he asked.
Maieron contended councillors have the choice of submitting expenditures or not and, “Nobody is forcing you to.”
Maieron suggested he tried to save money all along from overtime issues, to having senior staff on a salary system, but, “I’ve not had much council support.” Maieron also suggested the motion would create two classes of employees – staff and council.
While at first he agreed with the verbal statement that council did not get mileage within the municipality, Maieron said after the first year-and a half on council, he discovered roughly 80 per cent of his travel is within the municipality.
His first suggestion, earlier this year, was to provide a stipend to compensate for the travel. As to the suggestion that anything be implemented for the next term of council, Maieron said he was agreeable.
That is, until the discovery that the existing policy did not exclude claiming mileage within the municipality.
Maieron suggested if there was fat to be trimmed, perhaps council should look at trimming expenses paid to attend conventions.
Maieron contended the current policy is already fair and councillors can choose whether or not to claim. Maieron then wondered whether Brennan’s motion was to limit the mayor’s ability to function as head of council.
“It means going to events that you are invited to from ribbon cuttings, to Santa Claus parades to being the Easter Bunny or handing out trees, the list is long, but I won’t belabour it,” said Maieron.
He considered the pertinent point of the argument was whether or not councillors are employees.
“I don’t want to be a second-class employee of this municipality,” the mayor said.
He added if the policy was to change, he should be able to retroactively claim the mileage the existing policy would have allowed.
“It’s not about the money, it is an issue of fairness.”
Maieron said he takes his job seriously, therefore when he is asked to attend an event as head of council, he goes.
“Councillor Brennan, if you attend an event and choose not to make a claim … that’s wonderful, but I don’t think that should be imposed on me,” Maieron said. Once again, Maieron said he brought the matter to the forefront because the costs were becoming an issue of concern.
“I would suggest that council do what is in the best interest of the municipality.”
While he asked for a recorded vote, Maieron said he was also prepared to challenge council’s decision (if the motion passed).
Brennan clarified the motion was in relation to staff and council, “This does not say the mayor or CEO. It is not aimed at [the mayor]; it is aimed at all of council.”
“Employees of the town do not get a tax free allowance – we do,” Brennan said, in regards to the mayor comparing himself to an employee of the town. “One third of our salary is tax free, which is to take care of the kind of expenses such as this in my opinion.”
Brennan stressed the move was to bring the policy into line with the current practice.
“If you want more money, vote against it,” Brennan said.
Maieron again said the current policy states councillors can claim mileage for business on behalf of the municipality.
“If you choose not to, that is your prerogative.”
In a recorded vote Maieron, Wintersinger and Callaghan voted against the motion, while Brennan and Tocher voted in favour.
As such, the existing policy stands and councillors are permitted to claim mileage within the municipality.
