The Town of Renfrew is going to get an important piece of data for down the road done right now.
Town staff have been directed to complete a report on remuneration for the work done by the town councillors and mayor.
Chief Administrative Officer Rob Tremblay says the report will compare the council’s pay against their counterparts in several neighbouring townships, including Arnprior, Carleton Place, Gananoque, Greater Napanee, Mississippi Mills, North Grenville, Pembroke, Perth, Petawawa, and Smiths Falls.
Council has stressed this isn’t about getting a raise, but rather a legally mandated review under the Municipal Act that happens once every term and will set the pay rate for councillor, reeve, and mayoral positions when the next batch of representatives are voted in during the 2026 election.
Tremblay says doing it all now gets rid of the rush to settle the matter ahead of what was a hectic schedule during the last vote.
The town treasurer will also be directed to prepare a policy to help guide future reviews in keeping with the requirements of the Municipal Act and the last two reviews.
That public meeting is expected to come in September, when town staff will return to council with their finalized report on the matter.
In 2022, Renfrew set the remuneration for its mayoral position at $42,400, the role of Reeve was set to be paid $21,744, and councillors were scheduled to take home $17,038 each.
(written by Kasey Egan)