More than $200,000 paid to 8 councillors, mayor

LAURIE WEIR

The remuneration numbers for 2024 are in, revealing that the Township of Rideau Lakes paid its councillors honorariums ranging from $16,387 to $28,368. These amounts do not include additional expenses for training, mileage, or other costs, which totalled nearly $220,000.

Here is the breakdown for the eight councillors and the mayor:

• Jeff Banks: $17,592 + $632 for benefits, $113 for training and conferences, $2,452 for mileage, $660 for mileage (additional), $18 for other, totalling $21,468. He also received a $490 stipend for his external duties as the RVCA representative, plus $70 for mileage.
• Paula Banks: $16,845 + $1,447 for benefits, $379 for training and conferences, $3,511 for mileage, $19 for other, totalling $22,202.
• Linda Carr: $18,288 + $569 for benefits, $1,300 for mileage, $880 for technology, $47 for other, totalling $21,083.
• Joan Delaney: $18,981 + $582 for benefits, $140 for training and conferences, $3,214 for mileage, $715 for technology, totalling $23,633. As the council representative for the CRCA, she received $59 for mileage expenses.
• Sue Dunfield: $17,749 + $578 for benefits, $2,870 for training and conferences, $3,701 for mileage, $660 for technology, $19 for other, totalling $26,580.
• Deborah Anne Hutchings: $18,749 + $578 for benefits, $1,713 for training and conferences, $614 for mileage, $220 for technology, $19 for other, totalling $21,895.
• Marcia Maxwell: $16,387 + $532 for benefits, $258 for training and conferences, $2,689 for mileage, $110 for technology, $19 for other, totalling $19,997.
• Ron Pollard: $18,288 + $569 for benefits, $3,569 for mileage, $825 for technology, totalling $23,250.
• Mayor Arie Hoogenboom: $28,386 + $766 for benefits, $172 for training and conferences, $8,054 for mileage, $1,176 for technology, $84 for other, totalling $38,640.

Coun. Jeff Banks inquired about the mayor’s payout from the United Counties of Leeds Grenville. Township acting treasurer Dave Schur said that information is available through the county, not the township.

Schur noted that the mayor and councillor honorariums, along with expenses for meetings, conferences, mileage, and technology/connectivity, are governed by Council By-law 2018-18. The by-law also includes a schedule of stipends.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority provided remuneration and expenses to the appointed councillors for attending meetings of their respective boards.

“The mayor is also remunerated by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (UCLG), which has a similar reporting requirement,” Schur said. “Any party interested in the mayor’s remuneration as a member of the Counties Council can obtain that report from the counties.”