Changes needed at county council, mayor suggests

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Steve Newman

Deep River Mayor David Thompson has suggested that Renfrew County council and staff examine how council does some of its business if it wants to include younger representatives.

His remarks, during the Jan. 25 session of county council, were an extension of comments made at the previous week's county council budget workshop by Arnprior Reeve Walter Stack.

To include a better cross-section of society within county council's ranks, Stack suggested one step was by offering slightly more remuneration to county councillors.

During the Jan. 25 meeting, the 2012 county budget was approved. That budget included increase based salaries of $3,000 (from nothing) for county councillors, as well as a base salary increase from just over $21,000 to $25,000 for the county warden.

"I don't think it's a financial consideration," said Thompson. "What we may need to give some consideration to is if we meet during the day, (because) that precludes a whole bunch of folks from participating in this process.

"I know the work level varies, depending on what committees you serve on. But on average we're here about three days a month. That kind of means you have to be retired, self-employed or unemployed. So with regular work, one would find it quite difficult to come in and serve in this chamber."

In his municipality, Thompson said discussion is underway about changing the role of the mayor so another member of Deep River council sits on county council "because the task is to onerous to be a good mayor, a good county representative, and to be a good dad, a good husband run a business."

"There's just not enough hours in the day."

In the end, Thompson said he didn't think the extra $3,000 as a base salary is going to make a difference. "Some consideration has to be made to when and how we do that business (on county council)."