MAPLETON – Council here will consider during 2025 budget deliberations a proposal to include the mayor and councillors in the township’s municipal employee benefit program.
A staff report presented at the March 19 council meeting shows it could cost just over $25,000 annually to add benefits to their remuneration package.
The report was requested by council through approval of a motion from councillor Amanda Reid at the Feb. 27 meeting.
The motion directed that council investigate the cost implications of including council members in Mapleton’s staff health benefits plan and directed the township’s finance department to prepare a cost breakdown and description of included benefits.
The report states the proposed plan would provide members of council with the same health, travel and dental coverage as an active employee, with premiums at the same rates as incurred for any other active employee.
The plan for council members would also provide flat $10,000 or $20,000 life and AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment) benefits, but no long-term or short-term disability benefits. The benefit coverage would require 100% participation for all eligible councillors.
Depending on the $10,000 or $20,000 flat benefit option chosen, the report shows the total cost to cover all five council members would be either $25,285, or $25,540 annually.
Because the mayor is also a member of Wellington County council, which provides similar benefits, he could opt out of the township’s extended health care and dental coverage but could not opt out of basic life insurance and AD&D.
The savings if the mayor elected to opt out would be $5,006 per year, the report notes.
The report states similar benefit packages are offered to councillors by the Town of Erin and Township of Puslinch. Town of Minto council members may use a health care spending account for up to $2,000 per year.
When the report was presented on March 19, Reid asked that the motion to receive the report be amended to add that council refers the matter to 2025 budget deliberations.
Council approved the amended motion.
