Welland council pay raise stands; no third look
Welland’s elected officials won’t take a third look at their remuneration after the majority shot down a request by Graham Speck to do so Tuesday night.
In August, councillors rejected an increase in their pay to $27,884 from $18,981, and the mayor’s to $ 76,208 from $72,995.
But in early September, council reconsidered that vote and accepted the hike.
Members of council earned cost-of-living increases over the years, but it was three decades since the last formal council pay review occurred.
Speck, a Ward 5 councillor, had support for his notice of motion for a review from Mayor Frank Campion, Ward 4 Couns. Bryan Green and Tony Dimarco, Ward 3’s Lucas Spinosa and Ward 2’s David Mcleod.
Voting against the notice of motion, after challenging and overruling Campion that it was in order, were
Ward 6 Couns.
Jim Larouche and Bonnie Fokkens, Ward 1 Couns. Mary Ann Grimaldi and Adam Moote, Ward 5 Coun. Claudette Richard, Ward 2’s Leo Van Vliet and Ward 3’s John Chiocchio.
Before Speck could speak, Grimaldi asked why the issue was back before council.
“This is based on procedure, it has nothing to do with the councillor. We take a chance on losing our respect and integrity with the public, with people who invest in the city, with people who are developing in the city,” she said.
Grimaldi said reconsideration motions should be made when politicians have made a hasty decision or if they felt they didn’t have all the facts or information.
She said it seemed like the rules were being waived too often.
“Why is this happening?” she then asked of Speck’s motion.
City clerk Tara Stephens said the first time council pay came forward it was turned down, and then a motion was made to reconsider that decision, which passed.
With council’s pay increase now approved, she said Speck could ask it be reconsidered.
“This would be the last time within the next 12 months,” Stephens said.
Campion said Speck’s motion was in order and Grimaldi challenged him.
“I think it’s out of order. I feel the way the motion is written it doesn’t say rescind, it says reconsider,” said Grimaldi.
She said once council votes that should be it, adding it looks like councillors aren’t making good decisions if they keep trying to change decisions.
Campion said the councillor had good points, but the ruling was still in order. That prompted the successful vote to overturn Campion’s ruling.
Mcleod also had a notice of motion on the agenda to ask council to look at its pay.
He wanted the raise, made retroactive to July of this year, to be reduced by $6,675 in 2020; and increased by $2,225 each year over the next three years.
Campion ruled Mcleod’s motion was not in order.
“It was in order when I provided it to the clerk, that’s how it got on the agenda. Now I am told it’s out of order. How did that happen?” Mcleod asked.
Campion said it was contrary to the original motion on the raise and no vote was taken.
Green said Mcleod’s motion could have resulted in a fair approach to deal with a longstanding pay equity matter, while also being financially responsible.