We're worth it, councillor says in defence of huge pay raise

By KATHY BOCKUS
kathy@stcroixcourier.ca

ST. STEPHEN – Town councillor Robert Tinker doesn’t think a salary increase for members of council is unreasonable considering all the time and effort he and others put into committee work and meetings.
“It’s fair and reasonable,” he said of the increase that would see Mayor Jed Purcell receive a raise of 35 per cent; Deputy Mayor Jim Maxwell would get an increase of 36 per cent and councillors would see their stipends rise 27 per cent.
The current bylaw allows for a cost of living increase of up to three per cent based on the Consumer Price Index.
But council has given first reading to a bylaw that would allow salaries paid to elected members of council to increase to become more in line with other “Class C” municipalities in New Brunswick.
If the amendment passes after its third reading, Mayor Jed Purcell’s salary will increase to $11,000 from the $8,134 paid to the position in 2008.
The salary paid to the deputy mayor, a position Jim Maxwell has occupied since the election in May 2008, would increase to $6,500 from $4,772 and councillors would see an increase to $5,500 from the $4,338 paid in 2008.
Council members are paid an annual stipend in two instalments.
But former town treasurer Ted Moore wants to know where the recommendation on salaries went that he, Jackie Bateman and Charles Monaghan presented to council after the three were appointed as a special committee assigned to look into salary increases.
“We came forward with a recommendation that went to council,” said Moore. “It was a recommendation for a raise, but nowhere near as much as they are asking for now.”
Moore questioned why the committee was struck and why he and the members wasted their time reviewing salaries and making recommendations.
“I’d like to know what happened to our recommendation. It was supposed to go to the finance committee,” he said.
“Why should people bother to sit on committees if council doesn’t even take into consideration what is being recommended?”
Moore said he thinks his committee’s recommendation has been forgotten.
“Somebody made a motion to be tabled and have the new council look at it. What they should have done was have the old council look at it before the new council was voted in,” said Moore.
Tinker said he doesn’t think the general public realizes the amount of time and effort that goes into being a member of town council.
He said he spends a good hour and a half a day just on e-mails alone.
“Through careful strategic planning and by being politically astute, our team was able to bring to our community a new plan for $250,000 in street work per year over a 25-year period. So that’s a good, long term local plan,” he said.
“In addition, we secured $1.25 million for King Street reconstruction and we secured over $4 million through the Building Canada Fund for additional street work.
“That $5,500 in a salary investment had a return of $5.5 million for the community. I think that’s good value,” said Tinker.