Members of Grey County Council will be getting a raise in the new year.
Beginning January 1st — members of Grey County Council will move to a salary based system instead of a per diem amount for meetings and appearances.
Barry Lewin, the Chair of the Remuneration Committee, feels a salary is more appropriate as more councillors are spending time outside chambers preparing for meetings and various committees.
The salary for Warden Kevin Eccles will increase to $45,850 dollars a year.
County Councillors will earn $15,500 dollars annually beginning in January.
Councillors are entitled to three “missed days”
After that point they will be docked 90 to 150 dollars for every meeting they miss.
Members of Council had mixed feelings about the wage increases.
Councillor Don Lewis says Southgate Council tried the salary system years ago, and switched back because it didn’t work out.
Other Councillors were concerned they would be docked pay for leaving a meeting early, or missing half a days work.
Southgate Councillor Brian Milne was in favour of the report by the Remuneration Committee.
Milne says Councillors who don’t attend meetings, shouldn’t expect to get paid.
After one year of the new salary system, the Remuneration Committee will revise any issues with wages, or the way they’re handed out.
