Councillors to discuss remuneration

Just how much councillors get paid, and how benefits packages figure into that amount, will be discussed by the committee of the whole at its meeting here this afternoon.
Coun. Roy Avis said he was looking forward to addressing the topic as he felt the current system is “unfair.”
“I was one of the councillors who requested we discuss this,” he said. “Right now, some councillors have the Liberty Medical benefits plan. Those that do, get their regular salary plus the health plan.
“Other councillors, who have a different health plan and maybe can’t get out of it, just get paid their salary,” he added.
“I feel a councillor should get paid $10,000, or whatever their salary may be, and if they want the benefits package, the cost should come out of that total,” Coun. Avis argued.
“Everyone should get treated the same.”
He noted that last year, councillors with the medical plan ended up costing taxpayers $3,200 in addition to their salary, and that this year, that amount would jump to roughly $3,500.
Over a three-year term on council, such a cost would add up to more than $10,000.
“I think that council does have to discuss it, and council does have to make a decision here,” said Coun. Deane Cunningham.
“Some councillors are getting paid more than others and that needs to be addressed. Decisions have to be made,” he added. “It should be an interesting discussion.”
Tonight’s committee of the whole meeting starts at 5:30 p.m., but will be in-camera (behind closed doors) until 6:06 p.m. The regular council meeting will follow at 6:50 p.m.
Other business at tonight’s council meeting includes:
•a centennial celebration update from event co-ordinator Marla Simpson;
•a verbal report from Administration and Finance manager Darryl Allan on the Ontario pre-budget meeting held in Kenora on Jan. 21;
•a letter of concern from resident Sue Fletcher regarding speed limits in front of Robert Moore and Alexander MacKenzie schools during specific hours;
•a financial request from Northwestern Ontario Crime Stoppers regarding the “Battle of the Badges” charity hockey game here Feb. 25;
•a resolution of support from the City of Welland’s police services board;
•an announcement from the Ontario Trillium Foundation regarding a new initiative for rural and small communities;
•a request from the Canadian Red Cross proclaiming March as Red Cross Month in Fort Frances;
•a request of support from Confederation College regarding its proposal to the province for per-student funding to offset increased operating costs;
•the awarding of a tender to provide signage along the La Verendrye Parkway;
•a bylaw to amend a bylaw to amend, stop up, and close a part of Seventh Street;
•a bylaw to authorize the sale of certain industrial park land to Tom Veert Contracting Ltd.;
•a bylaw to authorize the sale of certain industrial park land to 501801 Ontario Ltd.; and
•a bylaw to provide for a interim tax levy in the year 2003.