Stormy row over Mayors'allowances
A second attempt by Cllr Mae Sexton to have the mayor's allowances and expenses cut in half fell to the same fate at a recent Co Council meeting, but not before the Co Mayor, Cllr Peggy Nolan, accused the former TD of being "blatantly personal".
Having been unsuccessful at the Co Council's AGM, Cllr Sexton again put forward a proposal to halve the money paid out to the mayor and deputy mayor, after she submitted a notice of motion seeking details of the expenses and payments made over the last five years to members.
Just as Director of Finance Tommy McDonald began to outline the figures, Cllr Paul Connell interjected and said that in the interest of transparency he would like to see Cllr Sexton outline the year-by-year account of her salary plus expenses that she received from her five years in Dil Eireann, as well as her time on the Committee of Regions in Brussels.
Cllr Sexton replied that Cllr Connell should submit his own motion.
Co Mayor, Cllr Peggy Nolan said that the information sought was already in the public domain.
"It seems to be a way of getting at you Mayor," Cllr Connell said to Cllr Nolan. "That's all I can see of it."
Tommy McDonald resumed by outlining the Mayor's allowance has risen from `€24,000 in 2004/05 to €40,000 in the current year.
"The reason for the increase over the five years was that LAMA, the organisation representing the councils, would have asked the local authorities to increase the mayor's allowance," said Mr McDonald.
He said that the money, through local government funding, was available when the increases were sought.
Mr McDonald said that the Mayor's expense allowance over the five years hadn't changed and it was €10,160, which he noted was never fully claimed.
The Deputy Mayor's allowance went from €7,400 in 2004/05 to €10,000 in 2008. The expenses for the Deputy Mayor was €6,250 and again was not fully claimed.
Chairpersons of the SPC and Co Development Boards went from €16,000 in 2004 to €30,000 in the current year. The figure is cumulative for all committees – ie each yearly allowance was divided up between the chairs of the SPCs and the Development Board. These payments are determined by the Department, Mr McDonald said.
The allowance for the chairpersons of the three area committees is €3,000 each year.
The total figure allocated each year, rose from €69,510 in 2004/05 to €104,510 in 2008/09.He said that €30,000 of that final figure was decided by the department.
Mr McDonald described the discretionary figure for the current year - €74,510 – as being "not unreasonable compared to other local authorities".
Cllr Mae Sexton, speaking on her motion, said, "Since I first got elected to local authority in 1991, I have always believed that prudence in spending of taxpayers' money was imperative for every local authority and member of national parliament."
Several interruptions, from both Cllr Connell and Cllr Paddy Belton, raised the temperature of the debate and led to a warning from Cllr Nolan that she would adjourn the meeting.
Cllr Sexton resumed by stating that her motion was not personal towards the current mayor or any other mayor that sat in the chair.
"This is about leadership and this is about showing the taxpayer that we as members of this local authority understand the pain that they are going through," said Cllr Sexton.
She said that 'Better Local Government' was brought in after she left the council, and that she was horrified at how the mayor's allowances had gone up. She said that the council should take the initiative and take 50 percent cuts in the mayoral payments and expenses.
"We went into this, I presume, for public service. That's what I went into it for," said Cllr Sexton.
Cllr Nolan said, "Can I just say at this point, it is blatantly personal."
Cllr Sexton replied, "I think that's very sad."
"You had a breakdown of five years of mayors' salaries and you're focussing on mine," said Cllr Nolan. "I know the price of a pint of milk, and price of a loaf, and I know cost of living."
Cllr Sexton refuted the suggestion that it was personal and said she raised the issue in the hope of bringing down the money paid to any mayor.
Cllr Nolan responded, "That is a question that will be dealt with at the budget meeting."
Cllr Alan Mitchell said he was aware LAMA are due to meet with the minister at which a direction might be given on mayoral payments and attendances at conferences.
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