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Grey Highlands council pay will increase next term

'If we're trying to encourage more people to run, people from a varied background, you want to make sure that they're compensated for the time they spend at council,' said deputy mayor Aakash Desai.
2020_08_19 Grey Highlands highway sign_JG
Jennifer Golletz/CollingwoodToday

Grey Highlands council could see a pay increase for the 2022-2026 term, following a remuneration report presented to council in February.

Council members met a committee of the whole meetings March 9 to discuss the proposed changes, agreeing on a number of salary and per diem payments to increase council's compensation.

“I think it's certainly good for attracting a diversity of members of the public to run for council, to have a diverse council. I think it's fair,” said Coun. Cathy Little. “I think it compares to neighbouring municipalities, and the amount that's being suggested would be appropriate compensation.”

Some of the changes council agreed upon are as follows:

  • An increase in the mayor’s base salary, from $16,547 to $39,500 per year. 
  • An increase in the deputy mayor’s base salary, from $11,268 to $29,500 per year
  • An increase in councillors’ base salary, from $8,288 to $22,500 per year
  • Decrease to per diem pay. In 2019 the mayor received $33,223 in per diems and additional salary, the deputy mayor received $23,198, and councillors received $12,079. Under the proposed system, those amounts would drop to $4,600 for the mayor, $5,800 for the deputy mayor, and $3,540 for councillors.
  • An expectation for council members to attend 60 council, committee of the whole, and public planning meetings per year
  • A per diem pay of $150, plus mileage, for task force meetings, committee meetings, external appointments, and all meetings above the 60 expected for their base salary
  • $1,000 per year for relevant individual training that is beyond the usual training councillors receive
  • Four paid-time-off absences for required meetings per year

According to the report’s recommendations, the mayor’s total compensation (including salary, benefits, internet allowance, per diems, conferences, training, and mileage) will drop from $62,818 in 2019 to an estimated $57,717. 

Compensation for the deputy mayor will change from $43,667 to an estimated $46,267, and councillor compensation will change from an average of $24,104 in 2019 to an estimated $36,977.

However, council made adjustments to the report’s recommendations that will likely raise compensation higher. 

The decision to add a $150 per diem pay for any council, committee of the whole, or public planning meetings beyond the expected 60 per year drew concern from some council members.

“If we pick a reasonable number of meetings, then I think the council should do their best to conduct the business of council within those number of meetings,” Little said. “The way it stands right now, there's no penalty. In fact, there's a reward for not getting your work done in one meeting and having to schedule another meeting.”

“There's no incentive to get your work done in 60 meetings, especially if you're getting compensated for the inefficiency,” said Coun. Tom Allwood. “When we start talking about these extra meetings … and we get into $150 per councillor per meeting … it could be a shocking number.”

Other members of council argued that additional pay for work beyond the expected scope is fair.

“If you took that thought line to staff members, you could say that people getting paid by the hour is a disincentive to work efficiently, because the longer it takes them to do a certain task, the more they get paid,” said Coun. Paul Allen. 

“If we have an extraordinary year where there's an emergency, or there are items that come up that require more work, then I believe the future members of council should be compensated,” Allen said.

“I can see where Coun. Allwood is coming from, but at the same time, if we're trying to encourage more people to run, people from a varied background, you want to make sure that they're compensated for the time they spend at council,” said Deputy Mayor Aakash Desai.

Desai also pointed out that the additional pay for extra meetings will not necessarily encourage inefficiency.

“You really don't want to be the council that each year of your four-year term, you went over the 60 meetings,” he said.

Council previously made the goal to update its remuneration policy prior to the municipal election nomination period, which opens on May 2.

Staff are going to update the projected costs of council’s decision on Mar. 9 prior to any decisions being made.


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About the Author: Greg McGrath-Goudie, LJI Reporter

Greg McGrath-Goudie covers The Blue Mountains and Grey Highlands as part of the Local Journalism Initiative, which is funded by the Government of Canada
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