St. Catharines city council votes for staff to prepare a terms of reference for task force
A citizens' task force will be set up to review how St. Catharines city council members are paid, and how it compares to other cities.
Councillor Ratzlaff wondered if this panel would look at more than just pay itself, considering some don't just sit on the council.
"There are opportunities to sit on committees that actually increase how much you get paid. So, you can sit on the hydro board and make $79,000 more... and there are other boards in which you can make $45,000 more," he says.
Councillor Phillips stressed this citizens' task force does not mean council will get a raise, it's simply to review the pay structure.
Councillor McPherson pointed out they are privileged to have their jobs, and revealed many have told her they'd like to run, but couldn't afford to, or have the time. "If I am a single mom, looking at 'could I actually be an effective councillor?', the remuneration that we are paid does not reflect the reality of day care, child care, transit."
The councillor added some of her colleagues around the table, including Mayor Siscoe, pay for daycare or child care to come to meetings.
Councillor Garcia was against the whole idea, saying this topic has been discussed and re-visited enough.
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