Richmond Hill mayor looks to hire $140K chief assistant

Mayor Dave Barrow's new assistant would oversee 2 staff members, perform range of duties such as outreach and communication

Yorkregion.com
November 19, 2020
Sheila Wang

Richmond Hill mayor's office is expected to expand to keep up with the increasing needs -- with a price tag of up to $140,000.

City council approved a member motion proposed by Mayor Dave Barrow on Nov. 11 to hire a full-time chief assistant to the mayor in a bid to increase the staff complement of his office.

The contract position will be paid from the mayor’s full communication budget of $56,000 in 2021 as well as any unspent amount from his 2020 budget for communications.

Mayor Barrow spent about $5,000 on communications in the first half of this year, accounting for nine per cent of his allocated budget in this category, according to the latest council expense report.

It would also require an increase to Mayor Barrow’s operating budget next year -- up to $84,000 -- to cover the difference, if needed.

“The new position is not about me,” Mayor Barrow told council members. “It’s giving the office of mayor the proper resources so that we can function quickly on behalf of the residents of Richmond Hill and also to be able to keep up with the equipment required for people that are working in the office.”

While it was a unanimous decision, it took council over 40 minutes to put questions to the mayor about the proposed position.

Coun. Greg Beros, who pointed out there wasn’t a job description, asked about the specific skill sets the mayor was looking for, the roles the assistant would play in the office, as well as the selection process for the job.

The chief assistant would oversee the two staff members in the mayor’s office and perform a range of duties such as outreach and communication, according to Barrow.

In addition to leading city council, Mayor Barrow also chairs York Region Finance and Administration Committee and Yonge Street Subway Task Force, and is a member of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority Board and the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation.

The staff support to the mayor’s office has not changed in years despite the steady growth in his engagement activities, the motion says.

Beros asked if the position would be the same as a "chief of staff," to which Barrow answered he didn't know since he never had one.

Earlier last year, Mike Makrigiorgos was named chief of staff for regional councillors Carmine Perrelli and Joe DiPaola as well as Beros.

Makrigiorgos is responsible for providing supervision and advice for the three council members, communicating among councillors, as well as building relationship with provincial and federal government, The Liberal previously reported.

The chief of staff made $142,62 last year, among the top 50 earners in the City of Richmond Hill, according to the Ontario Sunshine List.

Both regional councillors spoke in favour of Barrow’s motion, noting the increased workload on their own staff during these times.

“There has been criticism in the public that the mayor’s office hasn’t been reaching out as much as possible. And it makes a lot of sense that you’re requesting this additional staff person,” Perrelli said.

He also noted council has received a number of correspondences regarding the new position.

Resident Allison Smith wrote to council on Nov. 9 in opposition to the motion, which she referred to as a “clear and scandalous example of a politician feeding at the taxpayer trough.”

Richmond Hill taxpayers would have to foot the bill for the new position while they were already struggling to put food on the table during COVID-19, she wrote.

Barrow did not comment on the concerns.