BRUCEDALE – Combined Guelph-Eramosa council salaries and expenses edged close to $150,000 for 2019.
Mayor Chris White received $43,451.01 – $40,447.39 in per diem pay plus $3,005.62 in expenses ($1,600.24 AMO remuneration/expenses, $1,405 mileage and travel, $0 conference meals and parking).
Councillor Corey Woods received $27,449.90 – $25,064.66 in per diem pay plus $2,384.24 in expenses ($0 AMO remuneration/expenses, $2,299.92 mileage and travel, $85.32 conference meals and parking).
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester received $25,817.99 – $25,109.98 in per diem pay plus $708.01 in expenses ($0 AMO remuneration/expenses, $708.01 mileage and travel, $0 conference meals and parking).
Councillor Louise Marshall received $25,941.45 – $24,796.49 in per diem pay plus $1,144.96 in expenses ($0 AMO remuneration/expenses, $1,144,96 mileage and travel, $0 conference meals and parking).
Councillor Bruce Dickieson received $25,651.90 – $24,221.00 in per diem pay plus $1,430.90 in expenses ($0 AMO remuneration/expenses, $1,370.90 mileage and travel, $60 conference meals and parking).
In 2019, council approved pay increases for the mayor and council, which brought an estimated increase of $20,758 to the 2019 council salary budget – to $141,000.
Separate attendance records may disappear
Though remuneration was not discussed by council, the need for separate attendance sheets was. The report outlines which members of council attended regular and committee meetings throughout the year.
At the Feb. 25 council session, White asked if the separate attendance reports are needed.
Director of finance Linda Cheyne called the item “a housekeeping report” as required under Section 284 of the Municipal Act.
Cheyne added the attendance report is not a Municipal Act requirement, but is within the township bylaw.
White noted the township initiated the attendance report a few years ago, because of confusion about whether individuals were attending meetings.
He said he believed the township would already have a record of attendance in case issues did arise.
“But the idea of specifically creating an additional chart is a bit of overkill.”
Cheyne said she was not aware of other municipalities including this information.
White suggested this might be something council wants to look at. “I am not trying to eliminate this, I’m just asking ‘why are we doing this?’” White said.
He noted that when councillors do miss three meetings in a row, there are penalties.
Cheyne added “but that has not been an issue for quite some time.”
White added, “if it serves a purpose let’s do it, but it doesn’t it is just creating a report for nothing.”
He added, “If council decides to keep the attendance report, that is fine too.”
