Wellington North councillors receive $93,500

Wellington North councillors were paid over $93,500 in remuneration and expenses in 2016.

Council accepted the report without discussion on March 27.

Mayor Andy Lennox received $18,659 in salary last year plus $4,050 for other meetings, $1,623 for conventions and seminars, $1,117 for travel expenses and $871 for benefits - for a total of $23,321.

Other councillors received:

- Sherry Burke: per diem pay of $12,689, $2,175 for other meetings, $1,334 for conventions and seminars, $692 for telephone and internet, $803 for travel expenses and $438 for benefits - for a total of $18,132;

- Lisa Hern: pay of $12,689, $2,775 for other meetings, $290 for conventions and seminars, $603 for telephone and internet, $774 for travel expenses and $533 for benefits - for a total of $17,665;

- Steve McCabe: pay of $12,689, $583 for telephone and internet, $720 for travel expenses and $410 for benefits - for a total of $14,403; and

- Dan Yake: pay of $12,689, $2,100 for other meetings, $927 for telephone and internet, $762 for travel expenses and $507 for benefits - for a total: $16,986.

McCabe has stated he does not charge for additional meetings, saying, “I don’t feel right charging for that when I’m a part of council.”

Council agreed in November 2016 to change how council gets paid in 2017. Starting Jan. 1, council moved to a flat-rate of $17,000 per year for councillors and $27,000 for the mayor, plus benefits. The numbers were calculated based on a three-year average.