An image from Meaford's Feb. 22 virtual council meeting. (from Municipality of Meaford stream)
The Municipality of Meaford released a report on remuneration costs for councillors and local boards in 2020.
The report prepared by Meaford’s Treasurer and Director of Corporate Services Darcy Chapman was presented to council for information at Monday’s meeting.
In all, taxpayers spent more than $182,000 to finance the salaries and expenses of municipal councillors and some private citizens who sit on the committee of adjustment.
Meaford Mayor Barb Clumpus earned the highest salary among elected municipal officials last year — $32,199.
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney received just over $26,000 in compensation, while the remuneration of other municipal councillors was $23,799.
Meaford Committee of the Whole also voted Monday night to recommend the establishment of a by-law for a new Council Remuneration Committee and adopt its terms of reference.
According to a report by Meaford’s clerk and Director of Community Services Matt Smith, it will be made up of three to five members and the mandate will be to review and make recommendations on council’s remuneration levels.
“We are working on the basis this should start now, recruiting through April and start meeting monthly in May,” Smith says.
Smith points out the terms of reference for the committee include aiming for the 50th percentile (in council compensation) among comparable municipalities.
Coun. Ross Kentner introduced a motion in February 2019 to create the remuneration committee and have its recommendations implemented by 2022.