Staff
Will take
effect for
next term
The next term for mayor and council will see somewhat better pay than the current one after town council approved a revised remuneration and travel policy for both town staff and members of council Monday night.
The revised policy includes an increase to remuneration to the positions of mayor and council, which will come into effect Dec. 1, 2010 to coincide with the installation of the 2010-14 council.
It recommends the position of mayor be paid $23,000 per year, instead of $22,322 as it is now, while councillor remuneration will increase to $12,000 from $10,507.
The deputy mayor also will see an increase from $10,507 to $13,500.
The last time the salary structure was revised was in 2003, at which time the pay for mayor and council actually went down when the benefits package they used to receive was cut—reducing total salaries by about $4,000.
The benefits package continues to be offered as an option council members can buy into at their own expense.
In the revised policy, the benefits package option will remain status quo.
Another change is that per diem rates will be increased from $120/full day to $150/full day (five or more hours) or $74/half-day (less than five hours).
On the same note, when per diem rates are applicable has been clarified.
Right now, members of council are eligible to get paid for basically any meeting that takes place out of town. The revised policy indicates mayor and council only will get paid per diems to attend meetings when so authorized by a resolution of council.
These resolutions would come forward when, for instance, council states its intent for mayor and/or councillors to attend a certain conference, like the multi-day Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association’s annual general meeting, or appoint one of its members to a body, like the Rainy River District Municipal Association.
Mayor Roy Avis previously said making the council resolution a per diem stipulation not only will clarify when per diems are to be claimed, but provides “transparency” to the public.
The revised policy also clarifies what is inside and outside Northwestern Ontario for the purposes of adjusting meal allowances and other expenses.
Sudbury and everything west (including Manitoba) are considered inside while locations east and south of Sudbury are considered outside.
Meanwhile, the revised travel policy also states breakfast may not be claimed on the day of departure unless prior to 6 a.m. and dinner may not be claimed on the day of return unless the return is after 6 p.m.
Meals may not be claimed when they have been included in conference registration (excluding continental breakfast).
Mayor Avis stressed Monday that the travel policy is the same for town employees and members of council.
With regards to the use of town vehicles and personal vehicles, the mayor clarified the town van is used for travel most of the time.
If anybody elects to use their own vehicle, they don’t get paid for mileage but strictly for fuel costs.
They also have to sign a waiver regarding using the insurance on their own vehicle while on town business.
While approved at Monday night’s meeting, the updated remuneration and travel policy committee won’t be passed as a bylaw until a future council meeting.
The remuneration and travel policy committee was struck last year upon the request of Mayor Avis.
The committee, chaired by Coun. Ken Perry, consisted of Mayor Avis, Couns. John Albanese and Rick Wiedenhoeft, clerk Glenn Treftlin, deputy treasurer Debbie Scofield, and human resources manager Christine Ruppenstein.
