Written By David Gomez
ADELAIDE METCALFE - Procedural changes tied to the 2026 municipal election and council compensation were approved during council’s May 19 meeting, as councillors adopted bylaws related to election compliance oversight and a new half-day per diem structure for council members.
One of the first items before council involved the establishment of a Joint Middlesex County 2026 Election Compliance Audit Committee, a requirement under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act. Clerk and Manager of Legislative Services Michael Barnier explained that municipalities must create a compliance audit committee before Oct. 1 of an election year to address matters involving campaign finances and contributions.
Adelaide Metcalfe will continue participating in a shared regional model alongside other Middlesex County municipalities. Barnier noted the arrangement has been used in previous elections and allows municipalities to jointly recruit and manage committee members.
Barnier explained that Middlesex County staff are coordinating recruitment and advertising for the committee, which will consist of between three and seven members drawn from the public. Under provincial legislation, members of council, municipal staff, candidates and registered third parties are prohibited from serving on the committee.
The committee would only meet if a compliance audit application is received following the municipal election. Committee members would receive an honorarium of $200 per meeting plus mileage, with municipalities only incurring costs if an application originates within their jurisdiction.
Council approved the bylaw establishing the joint compliance audit committee without discussion.
Council then turned its attention to proposed amendments to the township’s council remuneration bylaw following a recent remuneration review. Barnier explained the amendment introduces a half-day per diem option for approved conferences, workshops, training sessions and similar municipal events.
“As part of the council remuneration review, one of the recommendations coming out of it was, as we only had a full day per diem of $150, that we have a half day per diem,” Barnier said.
Under the proposed structure, councillors attending events lasting four hours or less would be eligible for a $75 per diem, while events exceeding four hours would continue at the existing $150 rate.
Barnier said the amendment would allow councillors to be compensated proportionally based on attendance duration while potentially reducing costs associated with shorter events.
Mayor Susan Clarke said the review was also intended to consider the realities facing people interested in serving on council, particularly those balancing municipal responsibilities with outside employment.
“We want to also attract people to want to be on council,” Clarke said. “I recognize for some people, there’s financial cost to be away from work and be here.”
Council approved the amendment to the remuneration bylaw, establishing the new half-day per diem structure for members of council.
