TINA PEPLINSKIE

tina.peplinskie@sunmedia.ca

The town of Petawawa is tops in Renfrew County when it comes to total council expenses, mayors' salaries and mayors' expenses.

This according to the municipal elected officials remuneration survey for 2011, which was presented to the county's finance and administration committee meeting this week by human resources director Bruce Beakley.

Petawawa's total council expenses for seven council members was $203,091.96, the salary for Mayor Bob Sweet, including benefits was $34,154.88 and his expenses were $3,747.66. The salary and expenses for Deputy Mayor Tom Mohns were $31,537.53. Salaries and expenses for members of Petawawa council ranged from $19,746 to $30,868.31.

Laurentian Valley Township ranked second as far as council expenses at $149,497.53 for seven members of council. The township is ranked fifth as far as Mayor Jack Wilson's salary of $22,125.36 and expenses of $3,459.68. Laurentian Valley council expenses and salaries ranged between $1,033.09 and $21,453.72.

The Township of Madawaska Valley ranked sixth in total council expenses for five council members came in at $106,693.20. Mayor David Shulist's salary, including benefits, of $20,856.31 ranks seventh among his colleagues and he did not record any expenses. Salaries and benefits for members of Madawaska Valley council ranged from $18,936.16 and $25,705.29.

Whitewater Region ranked eighth in the county as far as total council expenses as it came in at $95,464.47 for seven members of council, while Mayor Jim Labow's salary of $15,654.96 was ranked 13th and his expenses totalled $2,312.58, which took him to 15th on the list. The salary and benefits of Deputy Mayor Izett McBride totalled $15,389.28. The salaries and benefits for members of Whitewater Region council was from $11,819.71 to $13,510.63.

Head, Clara and Maria Township and Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan Township are 16th and 17th respectively on the list in all categories.

For Head, Clara and Maria Township, the total council expenses for five members was $16,811.61, while the salary for Reeve Tammy Stewart was $4,643.41, while her expenses were $339.56. The salary range for councillors, including expenses, was between $296.23 and 46379.06.

The total council expenses for five members of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan were $12,815.76, while the salary for Reeve Norm Lentz was $567.66. The range for salaries and expenses for members of council was between $1,800 and $6,379.06.

Ten of the 17 municipalities in Renfrew County reported information pertaining to salaries and expenses for deputy mayors/reeves.

The survey results were provided to the finance and administration committee as information and to show a comparison in one place.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist