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City payroll up $3 million in Port Coquitlam

Port Coquitlam city council cost $363,477 last year, according to the SOFI report out today.
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Port Coquitlam city council cost taxpayers $17,595 more last year than in 2014, according to a municipal document released today (Friday).

The Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) shows council received $363,477 in salaries, benefits and expense claims in 2015, with Mayor Greg Moore pulling in a $91,148 wage and the six councillors each earning $35,667.

By comparison, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart took in $132,228 last year while Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read earned $99,435.

Newly elected Coun. Laura Dupont had the highest expense sheet of the PoCo politicians at $6,095 while Coun. Dean Washington, chair of the city's budget advisory committee, charged the smallest sum at $1,143.

Dupont told The Tri-City News she spent the money to attend eight conferences — at a total cost of $3,357 — plus eight charitable events in the Tri-Cities at $559. Dupont said the conferences not only educated her about local government work but also expanded her network.

"It's important to me as a city councillor to be as well-rounded as possible for the benefit of the community," she said, adding she tries to carpool with other elected officials and stay with relatives, where possible, to keep costs down for taxpayers.

As for PoCo's overall municipal payroll, it jumped $3 million in 2015 compared with the previous year. Among the top-earning bureaucrats on the $29.6-million list are:

• John Leeburn, city administrator: $209,384;
• Nick Delmonico, fire chief: $172,078;
• Laura Lee Richard, development services director: $172,077;
• Karen Grommada, finance director: $159,928;
• and Kristen Meersman, engineering director: $157,758;

PoCo city council is due to receive the SOFI report at its meeting on Monday.

Last week, Coquitlam released its SOFI report, which showed Mayor Richard Stewart and the eight councillors collected a combined $592,620 in wages and charged another $99,644 for expenses last year.

City manager Peter Steblin received $300,658 while deputy city manager John DuMont earned $258,031.

Port Moody's SOFI report is due to be released Tuesday at its city council meeting.

The Financial Information Act requires that local governments release their reports by June 30 each year, including audits, schedules of debt, council and employee compensation and payments for goods and services exceeding $25,000.

jwarren@tricitynews.com