Stouffville councillors defer giving themselves a raise

Whitchurch-Stouffville town council to decide on their salary at budget meeting

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 18, 2017
By Ali Raza

At the year’s first meeting, Whitchurch-Stouffville town council had to make a decision whether to give themselves a raise or keep their paycheque the same.

Council decided to defer the remuneration report and the decision to next week’s budget meeting on Jan. 24.

Before the decision was made, some councillors expressed their disappointment with the report. The report compared the annual salary and car allowance of mayor and councillors in Whitchurch-Stouffville with those of other similar-sized municipalities like Georgina and Aurora.

“It appears the consultant took the path of least resistance,” Coun. Ken Ferdinands remarked.

Coun. Rick Upton said he found “no real analysis on what [the report] is based on,” a view that Coun. Maurice Smith reiterated.

“The numbers have been put on the page without the analysis,” Smith said.

Coun. Rob Hargrave took the discussion to a different direction when he suggested ending the ward system and having four councillors instead of six to be able to “pay them what a senior executive is worth”.

Residents Bob James and Anand Daté also approached the lectern to share their remarks.

“Some members of council should get a decrease in salary, not an increase,” James told council.

Date suggested councillor should be a full-time position.