Local government minister Paul Toole has ordered Armidale’s administrator to give a 120 per cent pay rise to his advisers, costing ratepayers about $80,000.
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The panel of eight usually meet for just one hour every three weeks.
They have no voting power and their purpose, as stated in the terms of reference, is to advise the administrator on local views and issues.
Administrator Ian Tiley initially set the former councillors pay at $712 per month, which is the lowest amount on their pay scale.
“I thought it was commensurate with their duties,” Dr Tiley said.
But Mr Toole overruled Dr Tiley in a letter on October 21.
“Last Friday I received a letter from the minister for local government, the honorable Paul Toole, which stated ... the Local Representation Advisory Committee will, not may, be remunerated at a rate equal to their rate as a councillor or mayor,” Dr Tiley said.
Former mayors Hans Hietbrink and Herman Beyersdorf, and former councillors Margaret O’Connor, Colin Gadd, Andrew Murat, Dot Vickery and Simon Murray will have their pay increasing to $1570 per month, backdated to June when the committee was formed.
Former councillor Rob Richardson will be paid a lesser amount at his request.
Mr Toole was referring to a document given to administrators in May called Governing during change: Guidance for Administrators.
Despite the guide, administrators were told they could choose how much to pay LRAC members according to Dr Tiley.
“He [Paul Toole] told all the administrators in a session in Sydney that we had discretion on the matter,” Dr Tiley said.
LRAC members raised the issue with the Dr Tiley, citing the administrator's guide.
Dr Tiley then met with minister Toole and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall in Sydney on October 11.
On October 13, he again spoke with the LRAC committee about their pay.
All except one member of the committee opted for the top level of pay.
“Clearly they took their concerns to the local MP,” Dr Tiley said.
“They said we want it and we want it back paid.”
The decision has outraged the community.
“I’ve had more submissions on this than on the library issue,” Dr Tiley said.
Armidale Ratepayers Association chair Maria Hitchcock said people were absolutely horrified by the whole thing.
“It’s disgusting,” she said.
“It’s more than $1000 a meeting.”
Ms Hancock said the members didn’t have the responsibilities of a sitting councillor.
Some LRAC members represent Dr Tiley at community events.
They must read the business paper every three weeks.
And committee members need engage with the community to provide advise that reflects local views.
But former Armidale councillor and LRAC member Rob Richardson said their role was significantly less than when they were councillors.
“It's nowhere near what we had to do before,” he said.
Mr Richardson said it was important ratepayers understood the full story.
“I proposed a mid point for the six standard members and the top rate for the two deputy chairs but that was rejected,” Mr Richardson said.
He then wrote to Council’s general manager Greg Meyers to request his pay be set at the lower amount.
“The original pay was more than adequate,” he said.
“I feel very uncomfortable about the whole thing.”
LRAC deputy chair Herman Beyersdorf said he was “happy with the decision and thought that the current level of pay was appropriate and reflected the range of duties and the guidelines of the minister”.
One former councillor, who did not wish to be named, also said he thought the pay was justified because many members continued to sit on other committees and attend community events.
But Ms Hitchcock said hundreds of people in Armidale sat on committees and didn’t get paid.
“If they choose to sit on a committee, they do that as a volunteer just the same as everyone else,” she said.
“This is not a job, this is a voluntary activity.
“You’ve been sacked, you’re not councillors anymore.”
The Armidale Express contacted all eight LRAC members for comment.
