Bain top earner on Essex council
Warden and mayor on the road a lot
Warden Tom Bain was the top earner among Essex County councillors in 2017 taking home $125,942 in total remuneration — including his work as the mayor of Lakeshore. The 69-year-old retired high school principal earned a base salary of $66,228 for county council. Mileage, payments for attending meetings other than county council, conference expenses, association meeting expenses, and per diems added another $26,714. Plus, the top elected county official is also mayor of Lakeshore for which he said he earned approximately $33,000 last year.
All other mayors and deputy mayors also receive separate payment for work with their respective municipalities “I’m gone seven days a week,” Bain said. “There’s various meetings every day. Then on the weekend there’s a lot of annual meetings and social functions that people like to see you at.
“A good chunk of that is mileage,” he added. “I have my own vehicle so they pay me mileage. There’s conferences that I attend on behalf of the county. No question, it’s a full-time job.”
Bain has already announced he will not run for the warden’s position next term but said he is “95 per cent sure” he will run again for mayor.
“It’s just seven days a week and I’m just wanting to spend a little more time home, not on the go so much.”
This week, the county released its 2017 statement of ’ remuneration for work on Essex County Council — not including what the councillors make as mayors or deputy mayors.
Base pay for the remaining councillors is $9,173 with the exception of the deputy warden who earns a base salary of $11,167.
After Bain, the next highest paid county councillor was Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, who earned total remuneration of $20,507, followed by Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos at $17,425. LaSalle Mayor and Deputy Warden Ken Antaya took home $17,053, Essex Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche earned $16,386, while Kingsville Deputy Mayor Gord Queen earned $15,407.
Next was Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Bart DiPasquale at $14,946, followed by Essex Mayor Ron McDermott with $14,548 and Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo at $14.172.
Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti earned $14,118, while LaSalle Deputy Mayor Marc Bondy took home $13,837 and Leamington Deputy Mayor Hilda MacDonald earned $13,599.
Finally Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Al Fazio received $13,282 while Leamington Mayor John Paterson earned $12,997.
The total cost for all salaries and expenses for county councillors in 2017 was $291,224.