19 Comments
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Linda Bertrand's avatar

Why would this mayor or any of these councillors require health benefits. Most have other jobs. Do people realize how much health benefits cost? This would only mean that your taxes will increase yet again!

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RPRL's avatar

Just voted themselves a raise a few years ago. When's the last time you've gotten a raise? With a financial crisis coming, not a very good idea. Residents are already paying more for everything with no raise.

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Paul L's avatar

The mayor and council are about to vote themselves a 25 % raise - give me a break, who gets 25 % increases in the private sector ? This is such bad optics at a time when residents have difficulty putting food on their table and making ends meet.

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Jean-Marc Guenette's avatar

What a disgrace, I'm feeling badly for local poor people and tax payers who are on the edge of panic with what is going on between Canada and the US. To me giving time to serve your community with reasonable compensation is the corner stone of a healthy mind set. It flows down to everyone. We pay higher taxes, higher water and sewer bills and still volunteer time to make life in West Nipissing better, how does wanting a 25% or anytype of raise in these difficult times show community leadership from our council, to me all I see there is greed and opportunism. Let's get tax payers to vote on that " pay raise or pay cut" hmmmm!

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Barb Phillips's avatar

Voting on it ? I think we need an election.

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Barb Phillips's avatar

This is terrible. Our country is in a very difficult time. Why would the mayor and council members expect a huge( 25%) wage increase? Now also we are hearing about health benefits? This is insane. Added costs? Travel expenses are already included. What higher costs?These added dollars come from our taxes. These people already have jobs. How can anyone justify paying more when we have such high housing costs and people barely making ends meet? Higher taxes mean higher rents too and we already have a situation where so many cannot afford a roof over their heads. We, retired citizens, are facing higher costs as well and no 25% extra for us. I would be ashamed to stand there and expect more! We deserve to know clearly how each councillor stands on this. I will not forget at election time!! The money should go towards doctor recruitment and programs for the needy not thousands extra in the pockets of the well off. SHAME ON YOU MAYOR ROCHON. We voted for you and feel betrayed now.

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Diane Bonenfant's avatar

Shame on council 😡

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Jane Hardy's avatar

I’d be interested to know how much , we, the taxpayer paid for this consultant to determine this council needs a 25% raise.

I’m sure private sector workers would just love a 25% raise…. Too me this is just plain greed!

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Bill William's avatar

My nickel...they don't need it.

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Barb Phillips's avatar

How much did the taxpayers pay for the consultant? Were we asked to approve it?

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Rejean Venne's avatar

Council approved the hiring of a consultant about a year ago. I don’t remember the exact figure but I believe it was around $50,000.

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Stewart Sinclair's avatar

Thanks for keeping us informed about out town - again.

It drives me nuts to see this same basic hassle being hashed out time and time again in many different government bodies. The most obvious solution is to take the issue out the hands of the elected bodies and set up a formula that serves year after year without all this blither. The increase is $4784 on a current base of 17748. That's 26.95%.

If we go from the last election in 2022 the cost of living index CPI has gone up 6.8 % in 2022, 3.9% in 2023, and 2.4% in 2024 for a total of approximately 13.1%. So give them that and peg the salary to the CPI after that. Increasing the payment by the same percentage as the CPI each year from here on in.

We take the whole sorry process out of the hands people of who decide their own salary (where else do we see that) along with what ever consultants they employ. Thus ending any impression of conflict of interest.

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Rejean Venne's avatar

The salaries are already increased every single year to adjust for cost of living.

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Stewart Sinclair's avatar

That's interesting. So how in the world do they justify this crap. They don't work very hard. They just do what ever the CAO and senior staff tell them.

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Barb Phillips's avatar

Good for you Councillor Rolland Larabie. You are a welcome voice amongst a very greedy group. I fully believe that you are serving for the benefit of our community. Our community has many that work as volunteers. I wonder how they feel about this issue. Many give their time and efforts to help, Firefighters, First Responders, and so many more.

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Barb Phillips's avatar

How to edit this??? I am now reading an "update" stating that it is Councillor Fern Pellerin who was the one who did not want an increase. NOT LARABIE. Who is changing these posts after they are made public??? I see that a comment credited to Kris Rivard has also been changed to another person! What is the point of these posts if they are not accurate? Are we being deliberately misled?

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Mr.Reality's avatar

We are aware of the abilities and the work ethics of some of these representatives who have demonstrated nothing that would justify an increase in salaries. These positions no longer lead they simply manage their mandates from above or see how the next municipal government does it. We will not be committing to an increase on our community contributions to support such waste when other issues more deserving need addressed. Mr. Larabie hasn't demonstrated or provided any noticeable leadership since replacing Mrs Tessier. We will review and revisit his qualifications possible in the future should circumstances change. If you have no confidence, you have no commitment. Doing better will get you there.

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Janice Lingwood's avatar

Fern Pellerin is 100% correct. You knew what your pay and duties would be when you accepted the job. Now you feel you are "entitled" to (not earned) a pay raise. There are so many people and families struggling in the community that would appreciate and deserve a raise but unfortunately a tough economy makes this impossible. Maybe the ones that feel a substantial raise is acceptable should walk in the shoes of these people that are struggling.

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Joe Coté's avatar

Great way to add expenses, who will end up paying at the end? Once again the tax payers ,what a great way to help the young generation start off in life and helping to keep the elders in their home. Tax tax and more tax but the pensions don’t rise its no wonder the food banks can’t keep up.

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