Maximum pay for councillors

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 242, 10 May 1988, Page 1

Maximum pay for councillors

Waimarino District councillors discussed at length the matter of remuneration for attending meetings at their recent full council meeting. The Finance and Administration meeting recommended that councillors receive up to the maximum remuneration allowable under the Annual Allowances and Remuneration Determination 1987.

Cr Doug Bennett told the councillors that they should decide on the form of payment - either a lump sum amount at the end of the year or payment per meeting amount. Councillors were divided as to what form of remuneration they should receive for attending meetings and whether to accept payment. Cr Tom Punch: "It is better to offer it to ev-

eryone. Then the onus is on the individual councillor to decide what they want to do with it." Mayor Garrick Workman: "It is always a difficult decision to make. We are torn between what is best for the district as a whole, or what is available to you." Cr Bruce Thompson:

"Councillors do earn their keep and deserve remuneration. I consider it reasonably fair - after all it is eamed." A motion put forward by Cr Jeremy Trebilcock that councillors be paid the standard $40 per meeting instead of an annual lump sum, was lost.

The council decided to accept the original recommendation made by the Finance and Administration committee . Mayor Workman spoke in favour of receiving recognition for councillors' attendance of meetings.