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Port Edward council votes in favour of pay increase

Those who are successful in November’s municipal election in Port Edward will be getting a little more money for their efforts after the current council voted to revise the pay and per diem for council.

Those who are successful in November’s municipal election in Port Edward will be getting a little more money for their efforts after the current council voted to revise the pay and per diem for council.

Both the mayor and councillors will receive an extra $140 per year for the next three years, which will take the mayor from $9,820 in 2012 to $10,100 in 2014 and councillors from $5,720 in 2012 to $6,000 in 2014.

“Outgoing councils have always set the rate for the incoming council. It’s tough for the new council to do, particularly if there is big changes, so we looked at other communities of similar size to see what they have,” said Chief Administrative Officer Ron Bedard.

“What this really represents is a little less than a two per cent increase for the mayor and a little more than two per cent for councillors. It falls in line with what other communities have done.”

As well, the per diem officials receive while travelling for meetings or conferences will increase by $10 per day from $75 to $85.

“The average per diem among the communities we surveyed was $97, so we’re still well below others,” said Bedard.