While Wellington North’s council costs are under budget for salaries, mileage, and conventions, the total package still amounts to $119,940 – even though the budget was set at $127,663.
Last year, council costs were $115,420.
The report of Wellington North council’s costs was brought to council on Monday night. Even though 2009 councillor salaries (including per diem payments) of $103,219 was under the budgeted amount of $109,663, that is still over payments of $100,797 in 2008.
Overall mileage expenses are up from 2008, with claims of $4,569 compared to $3,800 in 2008. The mileage budget was the same as 2008, at $5,000. Of that, $1,488 in mileage was paid to Mayor Mike Broomhead.
Convention expenses are also up, although below the projected budgets. In part, that is due to an additional $3,000 allocated in the 2009 budget.
Convention costs were $12,152 in 2009, compared to the $10,286 spent in 2008.
This year’s report caused little discussion at council.
Conventions and courses taken by councillors this year included: the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Councillors’ pay includes a base salary, meeting per day payments, mileage, and conventions and workshops.
For Mayor Mike Broomhead that amounted to a salary of $33,039 (base salary of $16,389 and $16,650 for attending council and committee meetings), $1,488 for mileage; and conventions, $1,259 (OGRA).
Those figures do not include his pay for being a county councillor.
– councillor Ross Chaulk, $15,951 (base salary of $10,926 plus a $5,025 per diem), $761 for mileage, and conventions and workshops at $1,317 (OGRA).
– councillor Bob Mason, $19,326 (base salary plus a $8,400 per diem), $794 for mileage, and conventions at $1,099 (OGRA).
– councillor John Matusinec, $15,051 (base salary plus a $4,125 per diem), $761 for mileage, and conventions at $1,097 (OGRA), and $3,054 (AWWA).
– councillor Dan Yake, $19,851 (base salary plus a $8,925 per diem), $761 for mileage, and conventions at $1,172 (OGRA) and $3,152.08 (AWWA).
Motion lost
A the last Wellington North council meeting, Chaulk announced a notice of motion concerning council expenses.
The motion was the municipality should provide a more detailed listing of council pay, including conference expenses, registration, mileage, cell phone expenses, fax and wireless internet expenses.
However, Chaulk received no seconder for his motion, which was lost – meaning that the issue could not even be reviewed by council.
He said it seems silly that the figures are public information in Southgate to the north , but not in Wellington North.
Chaulk later said since the motion died, “Those costs will remain a state secret.”
