There's opposition to a proposed review of what members of Essex town council are paid.
The town's 2020 draft budget includes $25,000 to be set aside in a contigency fund, if council votes to approve a review of the pay structure. If a pay increase received approval following the review process, the money in the contigency fund then would be used to cover any increase for council, the mayor and deputy mayor.
Ward 4 councillor Sherry Bondy is not in favour and plans to voice her opposition to any pay increase at Monday night's council meeting.
"I've been here nine years. I'm not doing this job for the money and I think if people are doing this job for the money, they're in the wrong job," she says.
Bondy says the last municipal election already saw council's salary budget increased when the position of deputy mayor was elected at large, a position that had previously been filled by an elected council member.
"We've grown in terms of our numbers, and we also have an administrative assistant part time now as well, so that's an extra increase," she says. "When are we going to say hey, this job is not about the money?"
Bondy says many appointed council positions are paid, whether the councillor shows up or not, so council should be looking at efficiencies rather than raises.
"We get mileage, we have free internet, our cellphone bills are paid for," she argues. "Can we look outside of the box and can we say increases should be based on work done, so if you have a committee meeting and you don't go you shouldn't get paid."
Bondy thinks a complete review should be presented to the public to justify any pay increase.
"We do a thorough job to see what this job is worth," she says. "It's all about how the residents feel their being represented right now. So I would like to be transparent and I would like to throw it back to our residents."
The town's proposed budget doesn't call for a tax increase in 2020.
Council gets underway at the Essex Civic Centre at 6pm tonight.