Those who sit as alternates on Essex County Council are getting a raise.
Wednesday night at its regular session, county council voted 8-6 in favour of increasing the pay per meeting from the current $110.77 to $260.
It was also decided that county councillors who miss a meeting will not be paid and that the increase for the alternates will date back to January 1.
“I think this is a valid step for us to take,” said Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYoung who made the motion for the increase. “We are paid to be here and if we’re not, having someone here in our place shouldn’t be an additional expense.”
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara’s motion that the base pay per meeting for the alternates be increased from $110.77 to $151 and not be deducted if a councillor misses a meeting was defeated.
Essex County CAO Sandra Zwiers presented the results of an informal survey conducted by reaching out to 27 upper-tier municipalities in the province. While one of those did not respond, nine of them said they don’t have alternates, and nine others said that the rate of pay for those alternates is lower than what Essex County was currently paying at $110.77.
“It is an option, you don’t have to have an alternate,” said Zwiers.
While the vote to increase the pay, which is in line with the 137 per cent county councillors gave themselves last month was agreed upon, there were mixed comments on whether or not alternates are actually needed.
County Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti, also the deputy mayor of Tecumseh, said he had spoken to Tecumseh’s alternate who noted that the 137 per cent hike was warranted.
“At the local level, if you miss a meeting there is no alternate. County Council made the decision to have alternates a few terms ago.”
Bachetti also pointed out that with technology, those who can’t physically be at a county council meeting have the ability to Zoom in.
Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, who voted against the pay increase for county councillors in June, felt the alternates deserved a raise and that if he misses a meeting, he should not be compensated.
“I want to see the pay for the alternates come out of the member who they are replacing salary. That’s the fair way and how it works in the working world,” said Gibb.
Councillor Diane Pouget is the alternate for Amherstburg and she has replaced Mayor Michael Prue a couple of times this term.
Prue said that the choice for the alternate was hotly contested in his town.
“They don’t do it for the money. This is an opportunity, especially for new councillors to see how the county works,” he said.
Thus far in 2024, alternates have filled in a total of 11 times.
Alternates for county council get increase in pay
By Fred Groves
Comentarios