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Wednesday, February 1, 2012 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Orono Weekly Times - 3 BUDGET Continued from front money allocated to new staff positions for 2012 was $433,000. Councillor Corinna Traill said she had a list of 23 budget items she wanted questioned, and she began with the Mayor's Office and the proposed increase of $2,700 to his phone and fax account, which she wanted struck from the budget. Nancy Taylor, Clarington's Chief Financial Officer, explained this account was adjusted to reflect the actual cost for phone and fax services in the Mayor's Office. Traill next questioned the amount of $5,000 allocated to staff training for Mayor's Office. "What will the $5,000 be used for?" Traill asked the Mayor. Mayor Adrian Foster replied that he didn't know what the money would be used for or whether it would be used at all. "We don't know what opportunities will come up, what courses will come up, or if it will be used," he stated. "If it is not in the budget that means staff do not get training." He also explained that any money left over at the end of the year would be put into reserve funds and allocated to next year's levee. The increase to the Mayor's Office budget was reduced from $12,578 to $10,000. According to Mayor Foster, many of the items in his office budget this year were items he removed from his budget last year. It was the absence of any concrete description of the expenditure that led her to pull the item, Traill said. "If there are development issues with the Mayor's Office, we Sensational home decor celebration: (from left) Local Councillor Wendy Partner, Regional Councillor Willie Woo, Newcastle Home Decor owner Debbie Miller, Wilma Kulyk and Christine Nault of Sensational Seams, and Councillor Ron Hooper were all in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the new at-home window fashion service offered through the store's location. should know what they are," she stated. Traill also wanted to eliminate the $40,000 travel allowance allocated to each councillor annually. "I feel as a local councillor we do not need this extra money," Traill stated. Ward 4 Councillor Wendy Partner objected to the recommendation as she represents the largest Ward. "I am not in support of this at all," she stated. "I have the biggest Ward, many months I spend much more than [my allowance] and that is coming out of my pocket," she stated. Traill then made a motion that in future, councillors be reimbursed for any gas they use by handing in their gas receipts. Partner wanted to know if that would include the wear and tear on her vehicle. "If my transmission goes, are you going to pay for that?" she asked. Next Traill tried to freeze salaries for the Mayor and council. "At a time when people are facing economic difficulty, we need to be fiscally prudent," she stated. "The least we can do is freeze our own salaries," Traill stated. The amount of salary increase allocated for the Mayor in the 2012 budget was $1,792; and for the six councillors, it was $4,302 combined. Speaking with many years of council experience behind her, Councillor Mary Novak said the best policy was to receive incremental increases each year, rather than play catch-up with councillor salaries down the road. "It is easy to say we are saving money," Novak stated, "Only to pay it back in a few years. It generally costs more money at the end of the day," she stated. Marie Marano, Clarington's Director of Corporate Services, informed councillors they were free to donate their salary increases and gas allowance back to the Municipality. All of Traill's motions failed at the committee level on Friday. At Monday night's council meeting, she re-introduced six of her motions, including freezing councilBUDGET see page 4 ~ Happenings ~ Friday, February 3, 2012 - Orono Bingo, 7pm, Orono United Church. Regular games, Jackpot and Share the Wealth. Come out and have some fun! Saturday, February 11, 2012 - St. George's ACW Valentine Lunch and Bake Sale, 11:30am - 1:30pm, St. George's Anglican Church Hall, Mill & Edward Streets, Newcastle. Tickets $8. Info: 905-987-4277 or 905-987-4945. Monday, February 13, 2012 - Newcastle Village & District Historical Society Annual Meeting, 7pm, in the society's room, Newcastle Community Hall. For more info email newcastle. historic@gmail.com or phone Beverly Jeeves, Secretary, 905-987-5180. Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - Oddfellow & Rebekah Centre Roof Fundraising Dinner, 6pm, Ham & Scalloped Potatoes. Advanced tickets only. $15. Contact Connie Hooey 905-9835726. Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Clarington Wind Farm Public Meeting, 3pm-8pm, Newcastle Community Hall, 20 King Ave. W. Meet project staff, see the maps and ask questions regarding Leader Energy 4-turbine project. For more info, see ad on page 11.