Citizen-led group to determine compensation for council

Whether council remuneration will increase or remain status quo is in the hands of community members. A compensation review committee is being formed to take over the file from former interim CAO Gary Dyke, who accepted a permanent position with the municipality last month. 

The citizen-led group will look at the original report recommending a nearly $15,000 increase to council remuneration, which was brought forward back in November. 

The compensation review was undertaken in light of changes to federal income tax legislation, which removed the one-third tax exemption from elected official’s compensation.  

Council remuneration is currently as follows: mayor ($32,598), deputy mayor ($19,558) and councillors ($19,558). The proposed council remuneration for 2020 is as follows: mayor ($41,200), deputy mayor ($23,234) and councillors ($20,426). 

Dyke explained through consultation with staff, three people were chosen to get the ball rolling: Deb Wilson (co-owner of Grahame’s Bakery, member of the Police Services Board and chair of the BIA), Cathy Sheppard (owner of Sheppard & Associates and treasurer with the Chamber of Commerce) and Bruce Harrison (former mayor and vice chair of the Police Services Board).

He says they will select four more members to fill out the committee, by advertising the volunteer positions later this month. Dyke noted the group of seven will then move forward with the process of reviewing the documentation. 

He explained that staff will offer support to the committee, which will remain at arm’s length from the municipality when it comes to deliberations.   

The goal is for the committee to bring forward its recommendations sometime in November.