Saint John council has voted to increase their salaries after a long, emotionally charged debate on the contentious issue.
An independant review of the council compensation rates recommended pay hikes in the order of about $17,000 for the position of mayor, about $16,000 for deputy mayor, and about $10,000 for councillors. The new salaries wouldn’t come into effect until the beginning of the new year.
It’s been recommended the Saint John mayor get $74K from $57K, deputy mayor $38K from $22K and councillors get $29K from $19K #sjcouncil.
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) November 28, 2016
It was deputy mayor and seasoned Saint John municipal politician Shirley McAlary who brought up the salary issue back in the summer and mayor Don Darling came to her defence during the meeting over the recent treatment he says she’s received.
“I think it’s despicable that the deputy mayor has been personally insulted and harrased over the last number of days, including people calling her house and calling up on her,” says Darling. “For someone who gives and has sacrificed so much for her community.”
‘Embarrassing’ is how Armstrong describes what mayor & #sjcouncil are paid. Talking about @dondarlingSJ says ‘This guy works like a dog’
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) November 29, 2016
Mayor Darling declared that he would not be accepting the pay raise were council to vote in favour of it, to which multiple councillors voiced their belief that he should take one — after the dust had settled and the council meeting was adjourned, we asked him whether or not his decision still stood.
“I’m not going to have anyone question my integrity and I’m not going to have anyone use this politically against me,” says Darling. ” I think what I’d like to do is sort of see how this rolls out over the next couple of days…then I will make a final decision on what I’m gonna do.”
There were three councillors who voted against the pay increase — Gary Sullivan, Greg Norton and David Merrithew. Sullivan admitted that, yes, he does think that they’re underpaid, however:
“Attracting and retaining skilled leaders, we were attracted based on what was there in May of this year,” he says.
Councillor Greg Norton made a motion that this matter be deferred until January of 2020 but that didn’t get enough traction with only two votes for — his and Sullivan’s — and his motion was defeated.
Council was told by Sophie Fleming of Korn Ferry that while these increases might seem “hefty” that is migitated because there haven’t been any increases to the pay scales for council in 12 years. Fleming says that waiting another four years would simply compound the problem.
Recommendation re: salaries passes, as does 1st&2nd reading of bylaw amendments. Sullivan, Merrithew & Norton nays on these votes #sjcouncil
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) November 29, 2016
