County News
Angry white men
Arguments get personal when council pay is on the table
It was among the most bitter skirmishes around the council table in some years. It wasn’t about the unrelenting rise in the tax levy. Or roads. Or the wild demands of fire services. Or the massive spike in recycling costs. The issue that aroused council members’ passion was their paycheque.
As the budget process wound down, it was clear Council wasn’t going to make a dent into the broad swath of increases arrayed in the County’s proposed municipal budget.
Wellington councillor Corey Engelsdorfer (publisher of this newspaper) suggested capping nonunionized staff increases at four per cent rather than the 6.3 per cent stipulated in the agreement struck with these folks in 2021 that keeps their compensation at pace with the cost of living. The move would save about $225,000 and might also signal restraint in another year of rising costs.
“A deal is a deal,” declared Mayor Steve Ferguson. “More importantly, we have been developing a stronger relationship between Council and our staff members. It’s evidenced by better morale among our staff.”
The motion lost.
After a brief recess Council returned to wrap up the daylong budget investigation. But Councillor Engelsdorfer had another motion. Would Council consider capping its own cost of living increase at three per cent?
Sophiasburgh councillor Bill Roberts dismissed the motion as “grandstanding and virtue-signalling.”
Ameliasburgh’s Janice Maynard argued that capping the cost of living increase on councillors’ compensation signalled that only old, wealthy folks could participate.
“If we want to encourage a diverse socio-economic age demographic, this is the wrong message to send,” said Maynard.
Councillor Chris Braney objected to Maynard’s characterization of the motives of those supporting the motion.
“I take offence at Councillor Maynard’s suggestion that she can guess what certain councillor’s socio-economic scenario is,” countered Braney. “It has no basis in my decision to ask for zero.”
Picton councillor Phil St-Jean turned up the heat. “Doing this to save $15,000? Come on, it’s grandstanding,” said St-Jean. “It’s about keeping up with the world. You start playing around with things as this motion is intended to do, tinkering with policies that are existing, you are just messing with things that make no sense at all. We are making it hard for others who aren’t an old white guy.”
That seemed to do the trick. While it is unclear that cost of living clauses in councillor compensation is the bit encouraging diversity on council, the argument won the day. Engelsdorfer’s motion lost. Council will get their full increase.
Couple of weeks from now, things will be back to normal. Prosecution of tourist, and STA administration enforcement, is there go too.
This same council showed little concern for jobs lost at Lake on the Mountain two years ago. Our mayor’s
response ” I heard Waringhouse is hiring”
This is only the start. Back door deals already in place. Tax increases are coming, whether its added to your levy, road tax or property tax. One councilor advised roads department senior staff to pad there budget, then used to justify tax increase. The CAO was then apprised, but no disciplinary action pursued.
Councilors have a fiduciary responsibility to us the shareholders. Suggesting senior staff pad there budget, may be legal, but is morally corrupt, and disingenuous.
Someone should explain to our councilors, staff works for them, not other way around.
No Councilor is forced to accept the 6.3% increase. Those that were opposed to the increase should simply decline it if they truly stand behind their beliefs.
Nobody should be accepting that kind of an increase in these economic times of extreme hardship. I think Corey’s motioned made perfect sense. 6.3 seems pretty greedy. 😡
6.3% seems exceptionally greedy. Fine for private sector but not for public. People are struggling to put food on their tables annd should not be asked to finance those lined up at the trough.
It should really say, “Nobody should be accepting anything BUT that kind of increase in these economic times of extreme hardship”. All employers should be raising compensation based on cost of living increases. That is the whole point. By not doing so, employers are exacerbating the issue.
Prince Edward County should be applauded for setting a great example and doing what everyone else should be. Not labelled as greedy. This is one of the budget lines I’m proud of my taxes going toward.
I wish I got that type of compensation increase, but in my jealousy of those receiving it, I’m not going to advocate that they don’t have it.