AGENDA MEETING OF THE CITIZEN S COMMITTEE FOR COUNCIL REMUNERATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 AT 8:45 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, MUNICIPAL OFFICE

Transcription

1 1. Call to Order AGENDA MEETING OF THE CITIZEN S COMMITTEE FOR COUNCIL REMUNERATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 AT 8:45 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, MUNICIPAL OFFICE 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest 3. Adoption of the Minutes i. Minutes of the 6 th Meeting of the Citizen s Committee for Council Remuneration held Monday, September 12, Recommendation: THAT the Minutes of the 6 th Meeting of the Citizen s Committee for Council Remuneration held Monday, September 12, 2016 be approved. 4. Business Arising out of the Minutes 5. Deputations - Nil 6. New Business i. In-depth discussion and decision making on the following items: a. Salary b. Timing for implementation or phasing in of new compensation package

2 7. Correspondence i. Correspondence received from Cheryl Helm, providing opinions on Scugog Township Council Remuneration 8. Other Matters 9. Outstanding Matters 10. Date of Next Meeting TBD 11. Adjournment

3 MINUTES OF THE 6 TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR COUNCIL REMUNERATION HELD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 AT 8:30AM IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Chair Vice Chair Members ALSO PRESENT: Human Resources Advisor Clerk Recording Secretary REGRETS: Members Christy Stone-Curry David LeRoy Jennifer Bankay Bonnie Bunting Larry Corrigan Andrea Short Nicole Wellsbury Kim Cox Ray Smith 1. CALL TO ORDER The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:35 AM. The required number of members were not present to meet quorum, however, those in attendance agreed to review agenda items without proposing recommendations. The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:37AM as J. Bankay and D. Leroy arrived at this juncture of the meeting, providing the Committee with quorum. 2. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST No member made a disclosure of pecuniary interest.

4 3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration Meeting #6 September 12, 2016 Minutes of the 5 th Meeting of the Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration held September 7, 2016 Errors & Omissions: Page 24 Deputations THAT the minutes be amended to include that Councillor Kett s presentation be referred to the file. Resolution: Moved by: Larry Corrigan THAT the Minutes of the 5 th Meeting of the Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration held September 7, 2016 be approved as amended. Carried 4. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES Page 24 Deputations Clarification was requested regarding allowable Councillor mileage reimbursement. The Interim Director of Finance was called upon to provide clarification to the committee for allowable mileage expenses that could be submitted for reimbursement. The HR Advisor provided committee members with clarification for allowable mileage expenses as outlined in the Council Orientation Manual. N. Wellsbury left the meeting at this juncture 5. DEPUTATIONS - Nil

5 Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration Meeting #6 September 12, NEW BUSINESS i. In-Depth Discussion and Decision Making a. Life Insurance b. RRSP Percentage Resolution: Moved by: Bonnie Bunting THAT in review of the life insurance and RRSP benefits currently in place, they are seen as completive and it was agreed that those elements remain as they currently are. c. Salary Carried There was much discussion regarding the various components to be included in the calculation of Mayor and Ward Councillor salaries. The Committee agreed to use Uxbridge as the comparator. An ADHOC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Piano Café for the purpose of salary discussions. The Committee agreed the following items be included in their report to Council: Creation of a Ward Councillor job description Clarification of 1/3 tax free Review be conducted once during Council term

6 Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration Meeting #6 September 12, 2016 B. Bunting provided the Chair with a draft template which may be helpful as the committee prepares their final report to Council d. Annual Review of salary increase The Committee discussed when the annual review salary increase should take place during the Council term. Comments provided by from R. Smith were shared with the committee. Resolution: Moved by: Bonnie Bunting THAT in January of the fourth year of the term, the salaries for both the Mayor and Councillors be reviewed; AND THAT in alternate terms Staff will conduct a review; AND THAT in alternate terms a Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration be formed to review the salaries; AND THAT in non election years that COLA increases apply as provided in budget expenditure. CARRIED D. LeRoy left the meeting at this juncture e. Timing for Implementation or Phasing In of New Compensation Package 7. OTHER MATTERS - Nil This item was not discussed due to time restraints and will be brought back to next meeting:

7 8. OUTSTANDING MATTERS - Nil 9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Citizens Committee for Council Remuneration Meeting #6 September 12, 2016 Next regular meeting is September 28, 2016 at 8:45 AM. 10. ADJOURNMENT 11:40AM Resolution: Moved by: Bonnie Bunting THAT the meeting be adjourned. Carried Respectfully Submitted, Christy Stone-Curry, Chair

8 From: Cheryl Helm Sent: Monday, September 19, :03 PM To: Christy Stone; Nicole Wellsbury Subject: Scugog Council Remuneration Citizen Input September 19, 2016 TO: Christy Stone Chair of the Citizen Committee on Council Remuneration TO: Nicole Wellsbury Scugog Township Clerk I was the person who attended the meeting on the Scugog Citizen s Committee on Council Remuneration (CCCR) meeting on Weds morning September 7, I have been active in Scugog Township matters for many years now. I understand the deadline for citizen input has passed, however, since the deadline for the report has been extended, I would like to add my opinions on Scugog Township Council Remuneration. I would like it noted, that an attempt to get any public input on this topic over summer holidays was futile, as was noted that no responses have been received. Even attempting to get the committee to have a report done by the end of September, was a mammoth task. I have attended numerous Scugog Township meetings over the past 22 years. I have seen many, if not most, of our councilors work very hard and serving their constituents well. I have lived in Ward 5 all of that time and have seen my councilors Georgia Brock, Howard Danson and Jennifer Back in action. Their attendance to council meetings and was / is good. They have been there to answer questions I have had and I know that each had many other board responsibilities and functions within the township to attend. I can only start to guess at the number of hours they spend in council meetings per week, in extra committee meetings, attending all the various township functions (Chilli Fest, Canada Day, Christmas Activities, BIA town functions, Rotary and Legion Dinners, etc.), reading and prepping for all the various meetings and contacting constituents, etc. Even if they were to spend only 15 hours per week for the almost 9.5 months or 38 weeks council is in session, that would total 570 hours on a conservative note. But I believe many would average closer to 20 hours per week which would be closer to 760 hours per year. (These numbers are just rough estimates, since I have no way of knowing how much time any of them who actually put in, unless one of them may have logged all their hours.) Now this is not a part-time job for our councilors, not one of them went into it for the money; a small stipend raise will not bring in more qualified people. I know one councilor still has a fulltime position and two others still run and operate their own businesses. This position also requires flexibility on those willing to seek office, because meetings are held during the day, at night and functions are usually held on a weekend and the towns people EXPECT their local person (including Mayor) at these functions. However, a raise may help offset some of their costs and show the township does see these positions as valuable. After reading some of the minutes public information that is now available, these are my opinions on these areas: Aug 23 minutes I do not believe a different compensation or salary be given to those who have served more than one term be that councilors, regional councilor or mayor. Political positions are elected and are not meant to be enduring positions, they are unlike regular positions in private companies that give compensation based on tenure / seniority.

9 Aug 23 minutes I do agree with the consideration or term of CONTRACT position because a politically elected position in a democracy is not supposed to be an endless one. Aug 23 minutes I do agree that the recommendations should go into effect under current council. o However, that being said, if a public meeting is not held like I suggested at the meeting, there will be strong backlash if this committee suggests a raise among other things. o Again, I would be glad to facilitate a public meeting to prior to releasing the report at a council meeting or at least within the same week or the newspapers may choose to report a pure negative slant without public dialogue, which they have been known to do to grab headlines. I would like our current members to receive a raise of some portion to offset their time and effort, along with the monies they spent in the campaign. What that amount will be is can be determined by the CCCR group of individuals who I know are working hard and doing their research. Furthermore, when putting a raise for our councilors, even a $5000 raise, that would amount to only $25,000. When put into the scheme of overall STAFF payroll, this is less than one part-time staff person and we aren t saddle with all the other associated costs of a unionized OMERS staff member. It is worth the small investment. If is not an acceptable form to communicate. I will also post this in a formal letter. Regards, Cheryl Odee Helm Helm Communications, Inc. Office Mobile Currently 20 Wyndance Way, Uxbridge, Ontario L9P 0B8 Resided in Scugog Township April 1993 to Feb 2015 (and we hope to return)