Remuneration all set for next county council

By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County council has completed its review of council remuneration for the next term of council with several motions at their April meeting.

Council had previously voted to adjust annual salaries for all members to the 60th percentile, with cost-of-living adjustments made each Dec. 1. That would mean a salary of $60,471.30 for the warden, $25,237 for the deputy warden and $23,637.53 per councillor.

And $100 per diem payments previously rose to a $123.30 half-day payment and a $252.31 full-day payment.

Councillor John Logel pointed out that the previous $100 per diem had not been changed for at least 10 to 14 years, which staff confirmed.

“It costs me significantly more than $252 a day to attend a conference just by taking that time off work and not being available to my employer and the citizens of Brighton,” Councillor Brian Ostrander noted.

The final votes held on Wednesday dealt with three outstanding issues, one of which was conference expenses (for which the new per diem rates will apply). These are to be capped at an annual maximum of $5,439, and subject to annual adjustments for inflation.

Another motion had to do with retirement benefits, authorizing staff to enroll councillors in OMERS and provide appropriate alternate compensation for those not eligible because of their age. Staff confirmed that this would cost $20,365 and account for a .02% increase on the tax levy. Councillor Olena Hankivsky requested a recorded vote, and it passed with only Deputy Warden Mandy Martin and Councillor John Logel opposed.

The third implemented a health-care spending account per councillor of $2,500. Staff confirmed that this would cost $17,500 annually and account for a .02% increase on the tax levy. Hankivsky requested a recorded vote for this one as well, and it passed with Martin and Councillors Scott Jibb and Lucas Cleveland opposed.