Nice work if you can get it #2

So, while the CEO gets to hand-pick who will advise his employers on whether he should get a pay rise (see posting below), the councillors get to decide for themselves how much they will be paid for attending Council meetings.

 And guess what? Our councillors have repeatedly decided they deserve to be paid the maximum possible meeting allowance, which is $7000 a year, or roughly $320 per meeting. When most of the meetings these days take less than an hour (see posting below), that’s a very tidy sum.

Taking the same allowance for contributing to the affairs of a small country Council with around 4000 citizens as those who serve on large metropolitan Councils like Joondalup, Armadale or Stirling cannot be justified.

While on Council, I tried repeatedly to convince my colleagues that we should show restraint and demonstrate respect for ratepayers funds by taking a smaller meeting allowance. I was always resoundingly outvoted.

I don’t think councillors should be allowed to vote on how much money they will receive. If you think about it, every single councillor should declare a financial interest and leave the room when this item is presented.

 

As a ratepayer, I strongly object to having my money spent topping up the bank accounts of people who attend a couple of meetings per month, vote yes to every suggestion from the staff for an hour, then retire to enjoy free food and alcohol (also paid for by the ratepayers).

Being on Council used to be seen as community service, but with things the way they are at the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire Council, it can now be viewed as an easy way to earn extra cash, and free meals.