Yellowknife (Apr 01/05) - City councillor Blake Lyons says he hopes his colleagues will have some advice this summer on whether or not the mayor's salary ought to be increased.

Council voted Tuesday night to approve a list of six names who will make up a remuneration committee, who will look at among other things, the mayor and councillors' salaries.

The committee includes Kevin MacIntyre, representing the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, Marija Babic from the Northern Federation of Labour, former city councillor Ben McDonald, and representing the public-at-large, Brian Chambers, Stephen Nielsen, and Debbi Ross.

The last time council heard recommendations from a remuneration committee - in February, 2002 - it was decided that salaries for elected officers wouldn't be reviewed until just prior to the nomination call for municipal elections.

But last September, Lyons argued that the mayor was underpaid, and council should look at increasing the salary now.

He said the $58,587 base salary plus tax-free municipal officer's allowance of $29,293 was too low to ensure a steady stream of quality candidates in the future.

"If it (committee recommendations) could be done by the summer holidays, let's say by the middle of June, I think that would be a good time for it," said Lyons.

"Because I really think the mayor is underpaid."

Lyons had hoped council would've identified committee members sooner, but City Hall couldn't find a member of the judiciary willing to sit on it. Council decided to add another member of the public-at-large instead.

While he believes the mayorship is underpaid, Lyons said he's not so concerned about what he makes as a city councillor.

The base rate for a councillor is $9,828 a year plus $4,914 in municipal officer's allowances.

"My understanding from the bylaw we presently have is that anything for councillors wouldn't take place effect until the next election, which is 2006.

Pay rates for mayor and council used to be attached to the collective agreements signed with city workers, which gave elected officers the same raise percentage they got.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly suggested the city ought to take a second look at that practice, abandoned after the previous remuneration committee recommended they drop it in 2002.

"A former councillor, Peggy Near, tracked her hours very carefully, and it worked out to about five bucks an hour," said O'Reilly.

"If you want to attract quality people, I think that we need to be looking at the level of remuneration that's available."

As for getting a report from the latest remuneration committee by mid-June, Coun. Mark Heyck is doubtful.

"My experience is that committees don't work that quickly, but we'll see," said Heyck.