Policy - Compensation and Support for Members of Council - 20250414
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Policy
Finance
Contact: Director, Finance
Approval Authority: Aurora Town Council
Effective: June 27, 2023
Revised: April 14, 2025
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Compensation and Support for Members of Council
Purpose
The Town of Aurora (the “Town”) is committed to providing clear expectations and
guidance for existing and potential members of Aurora Town Council with respect to
compensation of members of council, as well as the support and services provided to
them as members of council as they carry out the duties of their elected position. This
policy document is meant to set clear expectations to avoid conflicts between members
of council and the administrative staff.
Scope
Elected officials.
Definitions
Corporate Expenses
An expense that is incurred by or on behalf of the governing body and includes, but is
not limited to, costs related to presentations, awards, public engagement / ceremonies,
attendance at events required by council and standard Town office support
(administrative assistance, supplies, corporate equipment). Corporate expenses are set
by council in one of two ways:
• during the budget process
• by policy or protocol
An expense incurred at the discretion of council is a corporate expense. In most cases,
it would then be administered by staff in line with the established policies, procedures
and practices.
Discretionary Expenses
An expense that is incurred by choice of an individual elected official. It includes, but is
not limited to, conferences, conventions, training courses, meals, hotels, travel, mileage,
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attendance at events (other than those Town events where an elected official’s
attendance is required by council), and other business expenses.
The responsibility for determining the appropriateness of discretionary expenses rests
with the individual elected official and not with staff. The elected official is accountable
to the public.
Policy
The Corporation of the Town of Aurora provides appropriate and clear support for
members of council in their activities required to carry out the duties of their elected
position.
Direct Compensation and Benefits
Council sets its own compensation and benefits remuneration from time to time, and
changes are enacted by by-law. Any council member may revisit the enacted by-law at
any time, subject to the Procedural By-law 6228-19. Such direct compensation and
benefits remuneration will include salary, but may also include auto allowances,
benefits, home office expenses, and other financial or equivalent arrangements.
Provision of Office Space and Support
The mayor is provided with the following:
• Access to a private furnished office space at Town Hall
• A Town owned laptop computer station which shall be connected to the Town's
secure network, and have access to the Internet
• The assistance of an executive assistant, who is an employee of the Town, and
who also supports where possible the administrative needs of other members of
council
• A Town owned and subscribed mobile phone and tablet or bring your own device
• Necessary and appropriate office supplies, access to a fax and copier / printer
• Meeting room space to meet with constituents or other Town guests
• A reserved parking space at Town Hall
• Free fitness membership, free drop-in swimming (lane swim and leisure swim)
and free drop-in skating (leisure skate) for the duration of the term of office
• Town logo merchandise or clothing to a value of $250 per year for personal use,
funded from the Communications Department budget
Members of council are provided with the following:
• Access to a furnished shared office space
• Shared resource computers in the shared office space, which shall be connected
to the Town's secure network, and have access to the Internet
• A Town owned mobile phone and tablet or bring your own device
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• Internet connection rights to the Town's secured network for councillor access
• The assistance of the executive assistant to the mayor, who is an employee of
the Town, and who supports where possible the administrative needs of other
members of council
• Necessary and appropriate office supplies, access to a fax and copier / printer
• Meeting room space to meet with constituents or other Town guests
• Free fitness membership, free drop-in swimming (lane swim and leisure swim)
and free drop-in skating (leisure skate) for the duration of the term of office
• Town logo merchandise or clothing to a value of $150 per year for personal use,
funded from the Communications Department budget
All staff and members of council are subject to the Town's I.T. policies when using
Town computer or telecommunications equipment or facilities.
Reimbursement of Appropriate Expenses
The annual approved budget sets out the provision of funding for the following groups
of expenses:
• Conferences / seminars / training and development expenses
• Constituency business and related expenses
• Other expenses of members of council, including those related to holding of
committee or public meetings which they chair or host
• Discretionary councillor ward allotment
All corporate expenses must comply with the policies and procedures established for
staff expenses. Corporate expenses incurred by elected officials will require approval of
the treasurer or deputy treasurer.
All discretionary expenses not paid using a Town procurement card, shall be submitted
to accounts payable as soon as possible after receipt of good or services. They shall be
reviewed by the executive assistant and signed off by the treasurer or deputy treasurer.
Eligible expenses can include:
• Event tickets
• Conferences, including meals, travel expenses, hotels
The executive assistant to the mayor may arrange direct Town payment of certain
events, conferences, or training type registration costs.
Authorized conferences, seminars, training and development sessions are restricted to
destinations within North America and include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Conferences / Seminars
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o Federation of Canadian Municipalities sponsored events
o Association of Municipalities of Ontario sponsored events
o Ontario Traffic Conference
o Canadian Public Works Association events
o Ontario Good Roads
o Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
o Parks and Recreation Ontario
o Canadian Institute of Planners events
o Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association sponsored events
• Training & Development
o Communication / Public Speaking Training
o Health and Safety / W.H.M.I.S. [First Aid / C.P.R.]
o Executive Management Workshops
o Management / Supervisory Skills Workshops
o Change Management / Business Process Improvements
o Stress in the Workplace
o Harassment and Discrimination
o Information Technology Training & Development [e.g. Word, Excel,
PowerPoint]
The frequency and / or number of sessions attended will be determined based on
availability of financial resources relative to the above referenced spending limits. The
mayor shall pre-approve council members' attendance to a conference or training event
following confirmation of remaining available funding. Travel, accommodation and
ancillary expenses associated with attendance at such events are funded from the
same budget account.
Eligibility criteria for spending annually approved constituency expenses or municipal
business funding includes, but is not limited to, the following uses:
• Attendance at community events
o York Regional Police Gala
o United Way Charity events
o Conservation Authority General Meeting
• Lunch meetings and other business-related hospitality
• Meals provided to council between / prior to scheduled meetings
Discretionary Ward Budget
• An annual discretionary ward budget is provided for each elected official. Any
funds remaining unspent at the end of the year shall not be carried forward to
next year.
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• An elected official shall not exceed their annual budget without the approval of
council
• The treasurer is authorized to withhold the reimbursement of expenses from an
elected official until council approval if, in the opinion of the treasurer, the
expense account has or will exceed its annual budget after taking into
consideration amounts previously expensed and committed to be expensed
during the year
Eligible ward specific expenses may include:
• Business meals in the interest of the Town of Aurora for meetings
• Facility rental for ward event / meeting
• Catering order, including coffee, tea, light food
• External facilitator fees
• Ward events
Ineligible expenses include:
• Item for personal use
• Expenses unrelated to Aurora business
• Events for a for-profit organization
• Alcohol expenses
• Election-related expenses
• Expenses for ward / constituency events after June 30 of an election year
• Accumulated expenses exceeding the elected official’s annual budget allocation
Disclosure of Compensation and Expenses
Prior to each March 31, the treasurer must provide to council a statement of all
remuneration and expenses paid in the prior year to members of council and members
of appointed boards and committees. Such report is a statutory report required of the
Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 as amended (the "Act"), and is a public record.
Further, this policy document, any by-law of the Town, compensation of members of
council, and expense supporting documentation (subject to the Municipal Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56), is a public record.
Council expenses will also be reported publicly semi-annually by way of publication in a
logical and readily located section of Town's website. The form of such report shall be
that as used in reporting year-end expenses. The interim reports are not to be placed on
the public agenda, rather produced and published by staff on the website. The website
published reports are to be retained on the Town's website for the duration of the
council term. The annual statutory report will continue to appear in the public agenda as
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required by legislation and will also be available at the new Compensation and
Expenses of Council webpage.
Updates
Minor administrative updates to this policy by the C.A.O. are authorized, provided no
material changes affecting members of council or changes which may have a material
financial impact on the corporation are made without council approval.
Responsibilities
Not applicable.
Monitoring and Maintenance
C.A.O. and treasurer should work collaboratively to resolve issues related to this policy.
Any member of council found to be disrespecting the terms of this policy other than
under exceptional circumstances, emergencies or operational requirement is subject to
an investigation and discipline deemed appropriate.
This policy will be reviewed two years from its effective or revision date, in accordance
with the Town of Aurora’s policy maintenance schedule.
References
• Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25
• Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32, Sched.
• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.
M.56
• Policy – Employee Expense
• Town of Aurora Annual Budget
• Compensation and Expenses of Council Webpage