Ottawa taxpayers will be on the hook for more than $500,000 in severance packages for Mayor Jim Watson and the eight councilors not seeking re-election this fall.
The City of Ottawa offers a “transitional allowance” of one month’s salary for each consecutive month of service, up to a maximum of six months, to councilors who are defeated on election day or choose not to apply the re-election
As of today, Watson and eight councilors have said they will not seek re-election in the Oct. 24 election and are opting for the severance package.
The current salary of the mayor of Ottawa is $198,702 per year, while a councilor earns $111,111.
If the nine elected officials not currently seeking re-election decide to accept the transition allowance, it would cost the City of Ottawa $525,273. Severance pay will also be paid to any councilor who decides not to run for re-election before the August 19 deadline or who is not re-elected by October 24.
Watson would be eligible for a transition allowance of $99,351 after serving three terms as mayor of Ottawa (12 years). Watson announced in December that he would not seek re-election.
Retired councilors Eli El-Chantiry (three terms), Jean Cloutier (two terms), Diane Deans (eight terms), Keith Egli (three terms), Jan Harder (seven terms), Mathieu Fleury (three terms) and Scott Moffatt ( three terms). terms) would be entitled to a transition allowance of $9,259.25 per month for six months. The seven aldermen would each receive $55,555.
Coun. Carol Anne Meehan would be eligible for a four-month transition allowance of $9,259.25 per month after serving a term, for a total of $37,037.
Any councilor defeated while running for re-election would also be entitled to the transitional allowance.
“Elected officials of the City of Ottawa are eligible for a transition assistance grant as recommended by the Citizens’ Council Task Force’s compensation report and as amended by the approval of the mid-term government review 2010-2014,” City Clerk Rick O’ Connor said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
Eligibility for the transition allowance became effective in December 2006. All outgoing board members are entitled to a three-month career transition program.
O’Connor says outgoing board members who return to their previous jobs or are elected to another level of government are not eligible to receive the severance package.
Elected officials who leave office are not entitled to employment insurance.