A motion to scrap the new car allowance for Langley Township councillors couldn't get into gear at Monday night's meeting.

Coun. Kim Richter put forward a motion to scrap the travel allowance, which amounts to $340 per month for councillors and $850 per month for the mayor.

Her motion pointed out that Mayor Jack Froese along with Councillors Bob Long, Charlie Fox, David Davis, and herself have all publicly announced that they won't accept the allowance.

"If a majority of council aren't even taking it, why do we have it?" Richter said. "It doesn't make sense."

Her motion was defeated six to two, with Davis supporting it.

Coun. Grant Ward said that travel allowances are common nationwide, and said that the issue of council pay was put into the hands of an independent committee of citizens.

"If they say that we should, then I'm going to take their word for it," Ward said.

That motion followed a previous request to have a tax expert take a look at that same travel allowance, to see if it was in conflict with the one-third of council salaries which are tax free.

The tax free portion is usually seen as covering expenses that come with the job. That could cover travel as well, Richter said.

"My concern is, are we seen to be double-dipping," she said.

The motion failed on a four-to-four tie vote, with Davis, Richter, and Councillors Steve Ferguson and Michelle Sparrow in favour.

At the end of the meeting, Richter put forward a motion to have council accept either the tax free portion of their salary, or the car allowance, but not both.