Hogg was top spender on regional council in 2014
Richmond Hill regional councillor points to national FCM work
YorkRegion.com
April 2, 2015
Lisa Queen
Richmond Hill Councillor Brenda Hogg, the big spender on York Region council last year, says her expenses can be attributed to representing the region on a national stage.
Hogg claimed $5,129 in expenses from the region last year, according to a report released last Thursday.
Under the Municipal Act, municipalities must disclose local politicians’ remuneration by March 31 every year.
That’s the highest of any councillor, although Bill Fisch, who retired as regional chairperson in December, claimed the most in expenses at $6,828.
Fisch also received a salary of $224,275 and benefits of $39,150. As a member of the Police Services Board, he also received $2,767 in expenses.
SITS ON NATIONAL FEDERATION
Hogg represented the region on the board of directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a national organization representing the interests of municipalities.
Expenses relate to travel, conferences and other costs.
“It was a new expense to the region, once the region was able to appoint a FCM rep. The region needed a population of one million to appoint,” Hogg said in an email.
Her expenses were in addition to her regional salary of $53,220 and benefits of $7,570.
Benefits include the region’s share of contributions for the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), Canada Pension Plan and premium costs for life insurance and group health and dental coverage.
Regional councillors and mayors also receive salaries and benefits through their local municipalities.
Because last year was an election year, there is a discrepancy in salaries based on if the councillors and mayors served the entire year, up to the end of the term or just since the new term started on Dec. 1.
Also, because regional salaries are paid through the local municipalities, which have different pay periods, there are slight differences between those serving the same amount of time.
WHAT THEY EARNED
The breakdown of remuneration from the region for regional councillors and mayors last year was:
• Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann, who began his term on Dec. 1, received $4,439 in salary, $1,117 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Markham Councillor Nirmala Armstrong, who began her term on Dec. 1, received $4,508 in salary, $1,240 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow received $53,220 in salary, $6,876 in benefits and nothing in expenses. He also received $520 for serving on the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority;
• Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua received $53,020 in salary, $8,775 in benefits and $785 in expenses;
• Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe received $55, 162 in salary, $7,560 in benefits and $3,589 in expenses. He also received $5,118 for serving on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority;
• Vaughan Councillor Michael Di Biase received $53,020 in salary, $8,775 in benefits and $1,552 in expenses. He also received $1,646 for serving on the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority;
• Wayne Emmerson, who served as Whitchurch-Stouffville mayor before becoming regional chairperson in December, received $89,537 in salary, $12,992 in benefits and $637 in expenses;
• Vaughan Councillor Mario Ferri , who began his term Dec. 1, received $4,439 in salary, $954 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Former Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi received $50,230 in salary, $8,507 in benefits and $2,543 in expenses. He also received $933 for serving on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority;
• East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson received $52,967 in salary, $4,085 in benefits and $344 in expenses. She also received $1,944 in expenses as a member of the police services board and a further $1,400 for serving on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority;
• Markham Councillor Jack Heath received $53,015 in salary, $14,579 in expenses and $3,148 in expenses. He also received $1,646 for serving on the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority;
• Markham Councillor Jim Jones received $53,015 in salary, $14,579 in benefits and $855 in expenses;
• Former Markham Councillor Gord Landon received $$48,507 in salary, $13,340 in benefits and $3,589 in expenses;
• Markham Councillor Joe Li received $53,015 in salary, $14,579 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• King Township Mayor Steve Pellegrini received $53,015 in salary, $3,909 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk, who started her term on Dec. 1, received $3.073 in salary, $517 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Vaughan Councillor Gino Rosati received $53,020 in salary, $8,775 in benefits and $867 in expenses;
• Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti received $53,015 in salary, $14,579 in benefits and nothing in expenses. He also received $1,378 in expenses as a member of the police services board;
• Former Vaughan Councillor Deb Schulte received $48,580 in salary, $8,040 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Richmond Hill Councillor Vito Spatafora received $53,220 in salary, $7,176 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Newmarket Councillor John Taylor received $52,987 in salary, $8,719 in benefits and $822 in expenses;
• Newmarket Mayor Ton Van Bynen received $52,987 in salary, $8,794 in benefits and nothing in expenses;
• Georgina Councillor Danny Wheeler received $53,011 in salary, $8,971 in benefits and nothing in expenses. He also received $1,117 for serving on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
