THUNDER BAY – Mayor Keith Hobbs on Monday night will ask council to approve the creation of a arm’s length remuneration committee to review council salaries.
The committee would be comprised of two members of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and two members of the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council, who would in turn select three additional members to serve on the committee.
In making his request, the mayor said during each term of council, councillors must make the decision whether or not to retain a provision that makes one-third of their salary tax-free. Once voted down, it cannot be re-instated by future councils.
"While administration is preparing to bring this matter forward later in the year, I feel it is time that a full review of council remuneration is in order to put that one-third tax-free status decision in context," Hobbs wrote. "The last full review of council remuneration was in 2008. It is time that it (is) done again."
In total, according to figures provided last March by the city, council’s salary and expenses combined to cost taxpayers $573,000.
The mayor collected the highest amount in 2015, paid $92,000 in salary, with expenses clocking in just under $9,000.
Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds was the lowest paid, taking home $31,000 in salary and filing just $360 in expenses.
