Wilma Kenny | Jan 08, 2014

South Frontenac Council - January 7

Review of Council Remuneration: Mayor to get salary bump

Several months ago, Council directed the CAO and the treasurer to set up a citizen led working group to recommend compensation rates for the Council to be elected in 2014. The current base honorariums were set in 2007, with increases tied to the percentages negotiated with union staff under the collective agreement. The 2013 honoraria are: Mayor $19,422; Deputy Mayor $13,656; Councillor $11,630. Half-day meeting rate is $50, full-day $150.

A three-member group of individuals representing both private and public experience in human resources and senior management was selected from township residents. (Christine Bell, Lois Burrows and Sandy Cameron.)

Sandy Cameron presented their recommendations, which were based on reviews of comparable townships. They were as follows: Mayor’s compensation is to be changed to annual honorarium of $28,816, with no provision for additional meeting fees. This will be phased in over four years, beginning at $24,471 in 2014. Both Deputy Mayor and Councillor’s compensation are to remain as they are, plus meeting fees, which will remain unchanged. The method of adjusting the annual honorarium will remain tied to the percentage change negotiated for unionized employees, and the honorarium for attendance at conferences will continue to be paid following the existing policy.

Council accepted the recommendations as presented.

Committee Appointees

Council representatives on the 2014 Committee of Adjustment will be: Pat Barr, Ron Vandewal, Bill Robinson, and Cam Naish. Larry York will serve on both the Storrington District and the South Frontenac Recreation Committees.

Frontenac AccessibilityAdvisory Committee

Neil Allan, Chair of the FAAC, submitted a written update on the work of this committee, which was jointly established among the four Townships and the County in 2002, to work with Council and the community at large to raise awareness and understanding of the needs of people with disabilities, and to help identify and address these needs.

2013 Year in Review

CAO Orr presented a list of projects and initiatives accomplished throughout the Township by Staff and Council over the past year.

Letter of Thanks

Councillor McDougall suggested a letter of thanks be sent to the Verona Free Methodist Church for their quick and helpful response to the recent evacuation of McMullen Manor, caused by a small fire in the residence. The church provided immediate shelter and meals over an eight-hour period.

Mayor Davison suggested that the housing management be asked what emergency plans they intend to put in place for possible similar events in the future.