‘Our performance metric is when we’re voted on:’ council defends annual cost of living increase

Council in St. Stephen defended a decision to allow for an annual cost of living raise amid new and growing pressures for municipal politicians in New Brunswick. 

At the council meeting on Nov. 27, a citizen questioned the addition of a “cost of living” increase that would automatically be applied every January. 

“I think that does set an unrealistic expectation and sort of an attitude of entitlement,” said Chandra Best, a resident of the municipality who spoke during the meeting’s public comment period. “I also wanted to note that the document that we see now has no requirement for any kind of a review process. It has no requirement for any type of a performance, not even if you look at the procedure bylaw or the code of conduct.” 

Best did explain she understood the commitment of council and the need to attract new and younger people to the council chamber, but suggested amendments to the bylaw in line with performance. 

“I would expect to see as a resident and a taxpayer the value for that money,” she said. “And the only way that I can see value is if there’s a report card or there’s some kind of expectations that have been set.” 

Original increase maybe transition facilitator

During amalgamation, a transition facilitator assigned to this region decided what council should be paid and there was a formula that included various factors like geography, population, and responsibilities. 

In December 2022, the mayor saw an increase from about $16,700 annually to $37,000, while the deputy mayor saw an increase from $9,800 to $22,000 annually. 

Councillors also saw a raise, climbing from $8,300 to $17,000 per year, but the new bylaw did not carry over the automatic increase. 

That rate has not changed since the bylaw was put in place. 

‘I got my feelings hurt tonight’

Coun. Marg Harding told the council that the comments hurt her feelings. 

“I’ve been sitting here for 20 years, and I got my feelings hurt tonight,” she said. “I don’t think that we’re making too much money, I think that we come in, we do a job. I know at my house, my phone rings and my doorbell rings 24/7.” 

Similar sentiments were echoed by Coun. Joyce Wright. She suggested adjusting the bylaw to only take effect in 2026 after the next set of municipal elections. 

“It’s no longer worthwhile for anybody to think about giving up their day job to do this, to serve the public,” she said. “What the premise for me is setting a good foundation for future councils so that no future council, which could be any one of the citizens sitting here watching us tonight or in the audience … none of them have to be in the awkward position, in 10 or 15 years, of saying: this is not worth it to me.”

She took issue with the idea of performance metrics for the council, as well. 

“This is not a performance metric,” she said. “Our performance metric is when we’re voted on. And in 18 months, it could be that none of the nine of us sitting around this table even run for reelection.” 

Multiple council members and the mayor were quick to point out that there were several council members from across New Brunswick who told them at a recent Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick annual general meeting they would not be re-offering. 

Campobello Island has been unable to fill its council seat for two successive by-elections. Mayor Harvey Matthews said he believes in part it has to do with the increased responsibilities and low remuneration. 

Coun. Brian Cornish also addressed the issue. 

“I’m going to tell you a little story around the province right now when you attend these meetings. There were 200 of us at the last one. You’d be lucky to have any councilor coming back,” he said. “And that was made quite to the point. People are taking a hell of a lot of flak, trying to do the best they can with what the resources they have we inherited.” 

The town has been grappling – like many others – with issues it hasn’t before including a housing crisis, homelessness, greater need for health care, and surging population growth. 

“The bottom line is this council, I’m going to defend it tonight,” Cornish said during the council meeting. “Sometimes I don’t. I get tired on the guys and girls and (they’re)hard on me too. But I don’t know where you’d get anybody else to do the work that they’re doing.” 

Council tables motion for amendment

Many councillors also came to the defence of Mayor Allan MacEachern – who has faced considerable pushback from the community as it grapples with the ongoing homelessness crisis. 

Emily Rodas was one of them. 

“Mayor MacEachern: you can say what you want about him on social media, but he’s very dedicated and passionate,” she said. “He’s been sitting around this table for a very long time, and most people will tell you that when you sit around a table for a long time in politics, you get painted as you’re doing something wrong, but really, the only thing wrong you’ve done is you’ve maybe sat there for a long time and people are getting tired of you.” 

MacEachern said the annual increase was never about money. He said he felt emotional when the council showed him support. 

“I don’t even want anyone to take on the job that I’m doing because I feel bad for them,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to just being kind and respectful, and I don’t want to put that into the real question about the remuneration. It’s really not about that. If you want better performance in your municipalities, support them.” 

The council tabled the motion to amend the annual increase to only begin after the next municipal election.