Alnwick/Haldimand Township defers vote on Mayor and Council salary increase

Alnwick/Haldimand Township Municipal Building. By Dan Jones, CFWN, LJI

By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

A bylaw to give the next Council of Alnwick/Haldimand Township a salary increase was deferred Tuesday as several councillors wanted more information before making a decision.

The proposed bylaw would give the Mayor a nearly $10,000 raise, the Deputy Mayor goes up $2000, while Councillors increase by $1500, from 2025 levels.

As well, the bylaw states that Councillors must get approval for conferences, workshops and seminars from the Mayor prior to attending. Currently such a request goes to Council for consideration.

Councillor Greg Booth took issue with several aspects of the bylaw, saying that requiring the Mayor to give final approval of conference attendance, gave that person too much power.

As for the salary increase, Booth speculated that there may not be much public support for this initiative.

“I think this going to the public, looking that we’re going to increase our salaries from eight percent to 40 percent, the public is not going to be happy with this,” Booth said.

Booth suggested that this bylaw go to the new council in December and allow voters to voice their opinions to those running for Mayor and Council.

Councillor Mary Catherine O’Neil said voting now on a salary raise puts already declared candidates in a difficult position.

She explained that the bylaw asks for a salary comparison of similar municipalities in the third year of Council. She wanted to see that comparison to determine where Alnwick/Haldimand Township stood, saying more information was needed.

Simultaneously, Council was considering an increase to mileage for civic leaders. Council was not opposed to that, but a motion from Booth to defer both issues was passed unanimously by Council.