Members serving on the disciplinary board meant to deliberate on the case of suspended city manager Johann Mettler will be paid between R1,500 and R2,500 an hour.The council earlier in April agreed on the new rates.Initially, all board members had claimed R2,500 an hour each for work done, but the city found that this was far higher than the recommended National Treasury rates.The Bay boards’ fees are detailed in a confidential report tabled by mayor Mongameli Bobani to the council.The board comprises Professor Chris Adendorff – to be paid R1,800 an hour – Nonhle Mohapi (R1,500) and board chair Pumeza Bono (R2,500).The municipality did not respond to questions about how many hours the board has spent working on Mettler’s case so far and if it is handling any other cases involving staff.There are no guidelines on how much members of boards for municipalities should be paid. However, the Treasury’s guidelines stipulate that board members of national and provincial government departments as well as Chapter Nine institutions be paid up to R694 an hour for the chair.Bobani’s report says board members were not willing to reduce their fees.Acting city manager Peter Neilson, who is administratively responsible for the board, said the fees had been negotiated before he started acting as city manager.“When the payments were brought to my attention I couldn’t find any reference.“The National Treasury guidelines are the only reference that I could find,” he said.“I also couldn’t find any formal correspondence that allowed for any remuneration.”Asked if the city could afford the rates, Neilson said: “Anything that is more than what the recommended value is obviously needs careful consideration and our budgets are in no way brilliant.“As we all know, we are battling with our collection rate and we are trying to keep tariff increases as low as possible.”Bobani said the board had worked more than 200 hours.It had also deliberated on matters other than Mettler’s.He said the city could afford to pay the agreed-upon rates.“These rates are in line with what they are supposed to get and we are satisfied with the work that they are doing.”