NPCA board members racked up $84,000 in 2017
The raise that board members approved themselves Wednesday only adds up to $1.42 cents for attending Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority meetings.
Nevertheless, board members still managed to rack up a total $83,785.37 in costs in 2017.
The NPCA board voted in support of the increases, based on the consumer price index. And for the most part, it doesn’t amount to much money for board members, pointed out NPCA board member Stewart Beattie, from Hamilton.
“I just want the public to be aware we went from $74.68 to $76.10 (per meeting),” Beattie said. “What’d we get, a buck raise?”
But in addition to the per-diem income for attending meetings, board chair Sandy Annunziata will also see a $128.50 increase to his honorarium, bringing his total to $6,891.53.
Meanwhile, the honorarium for vicechair James Kaspersetz from Hamilton is increasing by $25 for a total of $1,344.21.
While considering slight wage increases for this year, board members also had an opportunity to review how much they earned last year – according to a 2017 remuneration report included in the NPCA’s meeting agenda.
And with an income totalling $25,125.10 last year, Annunziata claimed the lion’s share of the NPCA’s payout to board members. The Fort Erie regional councillor’s remuneration included $10,828 for attending 145 meetings, along with $6,494 in mileage at 50 cents a kilometer, $958 in unidentified expenses that were not identified within the report, as well as other costs.
Kaspersetz total NPCA income for 2017 was $13,467.22, including $6,721 for attending 90 meetings, $4,124 in mileage, $1,260 in other expenses, as well as other payments.
Grimsby Coun.Tony Quirk was the third highest paid member with a total income of $9,153.63, including $6,198.44 for attending 83 meetings, plus $2,410 in mileage and $488 in other expenses.
Beattie earned $7,803.47 last year, including $4,630.16 for attending 62 meetings, $2,657 in mileage and $440.11 in other expenses.
In addition to the board’s remuneration, the NPCA also paid the eight members of its source protection committee $4,818.50 last year, including payments of $200 for each meeting members attend, as well as a total $618.50 in mileage.