Stouffville town council receives salary report

YorkRegion.com
March 22, 2017
Ali Raza

It’s that time of the year when Stouffville gets to see how much their elected leaders make serving the town.

Whitchurch-Stouffville town council had a meeting on Tuesday, March 21, where the 2016 statement of remuneration and expenses for the mayor and councillors was released.

In the statement, there is a stark difference between full-time mayor Justin Altmann’s salary and the salary of Whitchurch-Stouffville’s six part-time councillors: Ken Ferdinands, Maurice Smith, Hugo Kroon, Rick Upton, Iain Lovatt and Rob Hargrave.

Both Hargrave and Altmann were not present for the council meeting on Tuesday.

Council received the statement, but Smith was quick to emphasize council is “just receiving … not approving anything.”

While the mayor’s taxable salary stands at $88,772.67, councillors’ taxable salaries stand at $23,162.53.

Non-taxable income for the mayor is $20,047.07, and for councillors, $12,914.60.

As the mayor is full-time, his total benefits place higher than that of councillors at $18,769.62. Benefits for councillors range between $8,000 and $10,000.

The mayor and councillors are also given a smartphone allowance and funding for communications or newsletters.

Notably, Altmann spent $13,821.75 under “other,” which includes community functions and general public events.

Total remuneration and expenses for Altmann stands at $152,893.24, while councillors stand between $51,000 and $64,000.

Whitchurch-Stouffville is part of the Northern 6 (N6) municipalities in York Region, along with Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King and Georgina.

While Newmarket and Aurora have populations much higher than Whitchurch-Stouffville, East Gwillimbury and Georgina are comparable.

And in that comparison, East Gwillimbury councillors make $10,000 more on average than their Whitchurch-Stouffville counterparts.

Town staff confirmed remuneration and expenses for the mayor and councillors was within the approved budget limit for 2016.

Also from council:

Council received the 2016 drinking water annual and summary report. The report assessed water quality in Ballatrae/Musselman’s Lake and the Stouffville Water Distribution System. Public works manager Rob Flindall confirmed “there is nothing wrong with water quality.”

Council received the summary report of a public consultation session regarding ongoing Main Street construction between Park Drive and Stouffer Street. The stretch of the street is approved for 2017.