Woolwich councillors collected a total of $106,670.92 in pay and benefits, filing expense claims of $10,883.10. The totals jumped more than usual this year due to an overlap with a new, expanded council.
The 2013 numbers were $91,602 and $12,648 respectively.
In a housekeeping measure mandated by the province, finance director Richard Petherick filed a statement of payments and expenses that was accepted by council at Tuesday night’s meeting. The Ontario Municipal Act gives municipalities until March 31 to make the details public.
The bulk of the 2014 expenses applied to the previous term of council. Former mayor Todd Cowan was paid $36,756.97, including $8,999.96 for serving on the Waterloo North Hydro board of directors (a new addition to the remuneration report this year). His benefits amounted to $1,524.75, while his expenses totaled $4,376.94. Former councillors Bonnie Bryant, Julie-Ann Herteis and Allan Poffenroth each received $16,275.43 for their time in office last year, with benefits costing taxpayers $825.15 apiece. They filed expenses of $2,525.25, $165.63 and $3,049.39 respectively.
Mark Bauman, the sole member to stay on for the new term, was paid $17,273.17. Taxpayers were on the hook for $879.29 in benefits, paying out expenses of $507.28.
The new arrivals had only a few weeks on the payroll to end the year. Scott Hahn, Murray Martin, Patrick Merlihan and Larry Shantz each received $665.16 in pay, with benefits tallied at $33.87. Martin ($149.76) and Shantz (108.85) were the only new councillors to file expenses. Mayor Sandy Shantz was paid $1,153.85, with benefits pegged at $63.26.
Petherick’s report also noted the township paid five members of its Committee of Adjustment remuneration totaling $1,720 and expenses that amounted to $943.44.
In Wellesley, former mayor Ross Kelterborn was paid $16,198.05 plus mileage and expenses totalling $2,044.10. He made an additional $9,349.96 for his service on the board of Waterloo North Hydro.
Former councillors Paul Hergott and Jim Olender each received $10,334.44. Returning councillors Herb Neher and Shelly Wagner were paid $11,228.48.
Of the newcomers elected last fall, Mayor Joe Nowak received $1,472.55 by year’s end. Councillors Carl Smit and Peter van der Maas made $894.04.
The township paid its four members of the committee of adjustment $980, doling out another $469.59 for mileage expenses.
The six members of the township’s recreation committee received a total of $950.
