Some Woodstock councillors don’t believe $45,000 enough for ‘full-time’ job
The Woodstock Town Council will create an ad-hoc committee to review the mayor’s salary and position.
During the March 25 council session, Deputy Mayor Mark Rogers and Coun. Norm Brown asked to put remuneration on the agenda, noting that they believed the mayor’s position is no longer considered a ‘part-time’ job.
“Woodstock wants to continue to attract quality candidates for the mayor’s position,” said Coun. Brown. “As a council, we know this position is no longer a part-time.”
Mayor Trina Jones currently receives $45,000 per year in compensation. She told the council she puts in approximately 60 hours weekly, sometimes more. As for the rest of the council, the deputy mayor receives $22,500, and councillors get $18,000 a year.
The new ad-hoc committee’s mandate would be to review the position, look at a job description, and estimate a fair salary.
Coun. Julie Williams said putting the position at less than 40 hours a week would hurt the town.
“There are more people, therefore more area, and more issues,” she said.
A Government of New Brunswick steering group developed a suggested salary range. In 2022, the local municipal transition committee set the remuneration amount. That committee included representation from the town and every LSD that would become part of the newly amalgamated municipality.
By comparison, Oromocto, which is considered similar in size to the municipality of Woodstock, provides $36,000 in remuneration to its mayor. Their tax base is nearly double that of the Town of Woodstock because of CFB Gagetown.
In the western valley, remuneration varies. The mayor of the District of Carleton North receives $50,000. Nackawic-Millville, Hartland, and Southern Victoria mayors are paid $12,000. The mayor of Lakeland Ridges gets $12,500.
