Wellington North councillors were paid over $108,000 in remuneration and expenses in 2017.
Council accepted the report on March 26.
The telephone and internet costs seemed to have doubled over the previous year, and councillor Lisa Hern asked why.
CAO Mike Givens explained the way the town and council are billed for communication services has changed.
“There’s a monthly fee for all users because in the background, we have spam filters, we have lots of other things that are happening to protect all of our users and those costs are now allocated per user, as opposed to they used to all fall within the administration budget,” he said.
Councillor Steve McCabe asked if council could discuss the one-third tax exemption that is set to expire in 2019.
He put forward a notice of motion later in the meeting in order for council to discuss it at the next meeting.
Council agreed in November 2016 to change how council was paid in 2017, moving to a flat rate system.
Mayor Andy Lennox received $27,000 in salary last year plus $1,069 for benefits, $1,233 for conventions and seminars, $720 for travel expenses and $560 for telephone and internet – for a total of $30,581.
Payment to other councillors were:
– Sherry Burke: $17,000 base pay, $681 for benefits, $1,314 for conventions and seminars, $1,158 for telephone and internet and $720 for travel expenses – for a total of $20,872;
– Lisa Hern: pay of $17,000, $614 for benefits, $1,705 for conventions and seminars, $1,166 for telephone and internet and $720 for travel expenses – for a total of $21,205;
– Steve McCabe: pay of $17,000, $609 for benefits, $1,383 for conventions and seminars, $1,028 for telephone and internet and $720 for travel expenses – for a total of $20,741; and
– Dan Yake: pay of $12,689, $410 for benefits, $0 for conventions and seminars, $1,190 for telephone and internet and $720 for travel expenses – for a total: $15,011.
During 2016 discussions about changes to council remuneration in 2016, Yake indicated he would decline the pay raise. Yake was absent on March 26.
