Pay hike approved

By Melissa Meehan
MAYOR Pinar Yesil has kept to her word.
Last month she told Star she would vote against councillor pay increases if any aspects of her plans to improve councillors’ performances were eliminated.
On Tuesday night she voted against the increase.
“I made a public commitment that I would vote against increasing mayor and councillor allowances should my charter be watered down,” Cr Yesil said.
“That is what I did.”
She said under normal circumstances she would make decisions after feedback from the public, but in this instance, mayor Yesil said she wanted to make a statement that her decision was linked to the Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Reform Charter.
Despite Cr Yesil voting against the pay rise, the motion to endorse the increase before public submissions was passed.
Councillors voted that they would endorse the 34.38 per cent increase plus nine per cent super contributions.
This would mean councillors would be paid $24,400 per annum plus super and the mayor would receive $77,300 per annum.
Only councillors Yvonne Herring and Roz Blades followed the mayor’s lead.
Cr Blades said she didn’t feel that in the current economic climate, she could take a pay increase when council was introducing a 5 per cent increase in rates.
“It is a time of personal difficulties,” she said.
“I can’t vote for an increase in rates and have a pay rise.”
Cr Herring took more of a personal approach to the pay rise, asking whether councillors could vote a pay rise for councillors alone, leaving the mayor’s allowance unchanged.
“My problem is the increase for the part time mayor,” Cr Herring said.
“I feel an extra $20,000 a year plus a car is just ludicrous.”
She compared the job of the mayor to other jobs. “It (the job of mayor) is entertainment at its best,” she said.
“I hope the residents get behind me in their submissions.”
Councillor Peter Brown voted for the increase.
“The VLGA and the MAV endorse the pay rise,” Cr Brown said.
“The views of the community can’t be assumed and I will wait with an open mind,” he said.
Formal written submissions must be received by 12 June 2009 and those wishing to be heard in respect to their submissions will get a chance on 17 June 2009.