Ramara Council Approves a 41% pay and expense increase

On February 12th., Ramara council met, and approved the following:

• Bylaw 2007.13 - Relating to their mileage expenses
• Bylaw 2007.14 - Relating to their annual pay and a per diem for Committee Attendence

Contained in the '07 General Expenditures Budget, in '06 actual pay and expenses for Ramara council totalled $136 300. The proposed '07 total is $192 400 or a 41% increase. Current practice in Ramara is to apply the '07 budgeted amount to it's tax levy, which gets charged to its ratepayers. That the amount that goes into the township's vault, in the form of taxes.

Other changes improved is that councillors get a new $100 per diem for each committee meeting. I am not sure if it is guaranteed or they must actually have to attend. I believe that their annual salary is guaranteed, regardless of their attendance record for council meetings. You can go www.ramara.townsip.on.ca site to see how many committee meetings there.

Council will also get a better mileage perk as well. Previous policy was only to get mileage paid when outside the township's boundaries. From now on all mileage relating to townhip business is eligible for reimbursement. So now these councillors will be double-dipping as they will claim both the $100 Committee per diem plus the mileage to get to that meeting.

Here's what bothers me about this whole matter. During the campaign I don't recall any of thes elected officials, stating for the record, that their pay and expense package to be inadequate, and that if elected that they would in their first 100 days in office, vote themselves when aggregated, a whopping 41% increase in pay and expenses.

As well at this same meeting approval was given to an 11% increase to the '07 General Expenditures budget.

It was not clearly noted on the January 31st General Committee Meeting agenda, that councillor pay and expenses were to be discussed, which I questioned the township about this perceived lack of proper notification, they're position was that their actions complied with the letter of the law, (ie Ontario's Municipal Act).

If you were to look a the proposed '07 General Expenditures Budget, on page 6 related to Council pay and expenses. As well the township posted a link, on it's website to the budget, I was unable to secure a copy until Feb. 12th, well past the January 31st meeting date. I therefore contend that the township did not offer sufficient public notification.

And since the Jan. 31 meeting was a committee meeting, the agenda does not give the public the opportunity to speak and raise their concerns, unless they make a request to council to make deputation. And this request to make a deputation needs to be made to the Clerk's office in advance of that meeting. So I ask you, if you don't know what's on the agenda, how do make arrangements for a deputation.

It is may belief, Ramara Township uses this loophole as a barrier to the public, to actively participate in the process of public policy making. Again they can do this by breaking the spirit, but not the letter of the law.

So what's the answer? I believe that our elected officials should be properly paid for their actions. I do believe that the quality and make up of the current council is good. I also believe that these persons, if not guided by good policies and regulations that define what exactly is an adequate level of renumeration, that like they did in this example, they will abuse the process. The minutes from the Jan. 31 meeting does not record how the councillors established the rates they actually approved. What statistical evidence was used to support their decisions. I also strongly believe that the public has the right to participate in the process of defining what is a right level of renumeration.

I therefore request that Ramara Council council undertake the following:

1. Repeal bylaws 2007.13 and 2007.14
2. Only after all budgets for '07 have been approved, and the public has a tangible why to measure their performance, call a public meeting to discuss their current level of pay.
3. Mandate that councillors publish their expenses at every council meeting, that should their activities in the previous month are open to public oversight
4. That monies gathered for Councillor expenses go into a reserve fund, and that any monies in that fund on Dec. 31st be returned to the ratepayers of Ramara
5. That total expenses be capped, and that Councillors be prohibited from exceeding the budgeted amount.
6. Take your appeal to the public and use their input to draft a comprehensive pay and expense policy.
7. Publish your policy and the enabling bylaw, and allow the public to comment on the proposed draft.
8. Record the vote at 3rd reading and post the results.

Finally I would recommend that these policies be reviewed annually, (again after all budgets have been approved, or preceding the next election, in order that the candidates can comment on their positions relating to their pay, before the election).

With this approach, council will operate in an open and transparent manner. By fostering the support and participation of the public you will create better policy. Better policy equates with better governance, and governing with the confidence of your constituents.

If council does not adopt these recommendations, or take steps to amend the current process then I have to assume the motivation of the current members of Ramara council is to better their own well-being, and not the well-being of the residents of Ramara.