Extra pay for deputy mayor nixed

Following up on a decision last month that the role of deputy mayor be held on a rotating basis according to who is the current chair of the committee of the whole, the position will not get paid more than any other councillor.
Council last night approved a recommendation from the Administration and Finance executive committee stating that no additional remuneration be paid to the designated committee of the whole chair assuming deputy mayor duties.

This will be in effect until the end of this term of council (Nov. 30, 2014).
Currently, the remuneration schedule states the annual pay for a councillor is $12,000 while the annual pay for the deputy mayor is $13,500.
Councillors take turns chairing the committee of the whole, changing every four months.
In other news, now that all the town’s divisions have had time to review the 2013 preliminary budget, council will begin taking a close look at what the town can and can’t afford—and make some hard decisions.
Council approved an amendment to the 2013 budget timetable, indicating a special committee of the whole meeting will be scheduled for tomorrow (Feb. 13) to discuss capital items and projects for 2013.
Regular budget meetings will commence starting March 4.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard a presentation from Rainy River District OPP detachment commander Insp. S. Shouldice re: the 2012 police activities report;
•heard a presentation from regional economic developer Geoff Gillon and consultant Tannis Drysdale re: Rainy River Future Development Corp. activities from Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2012 and a revised renovation program;
•heard semi-annual reports from the Administration and Finance, Community Services, Operations and Facilities, and Planning and Development executive committees; and
•referred a request from Sunset Country Métis Council president Clint Calder, re: outstanding property tax bills for Métis Ventures Inc., to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation.