Pay packages for city of Port Coquitlam staff in 2010 stayed relatively similar to past years, according to recently released financial statements.
More than $8.9 million was paid to city staff making over $75,000 a year, down from the $9.2 million last year. The amount of money spent on city employees making less than $75,000 equalled $13.3 million, for a total of $22.2 million in staff salaries and benefits.
PoCo's chief administrative officer, Tony Chong, remained the highest-paid city employee, earning $201,750 in 2010, an increase from the $194,407 he made the previous year.
Barry Becker, the director of parks and recreation, saw a pay increase of close to $7,000, jumping from $151,145 to $157,964.
Mindy Smith, PoCo's director of corporate services, made $155,751 in 2010 while former director of engineering Igor Zahynacz earned $150,560 and former fire chief Steve Gamble took home $147,701. Both Gamble and Zahynacz have since left the city.
Smith told The Tri-City News that the city was able to keep its salary costs under control by not immediately filling staff vacancies.
"We also had a bit of turnover so there might be cases where someone may not have had a full year with us," she said. "We are not filling vacancies unless they are absolutely necessary."
While staffing costs have stayed relatively static over the last several years, that could change next year. All of the city's union agreements are coming up for renewal, which could mean pay increases.
"We are not certain what is going to happen," Smith said. "None of our collective agreements will carry through to 2012."
And city staff weren't the only people who saw PoCo pay increases in 2010.
The mayor and each of the six councillors received healthy salary bumps thanks to a pay increase they voted themselves last July.
Councillors each receive $30,121 in 2010, up from the $24,257 they earned previously, while Mayor Greg Moore saw his pay increase from $67,277 to $81,934 last year.
Expenses varied among council members, with Moore leading the group with $8,085. Coun. Mike Forrest had the highest expenses of the councillors with $3,805 while Brad West registered $3,570 in expenses. Coun. Glenn Pollock also claimed expenses ($3,192), along with Coun. Sherry Carroll ($3,160), Coun. Michael Wright ($3,056) and Coun. Darrell Penner ($2,234).
POCO'S BIG EARNERS
The list of Port Coquitlam city staffers who made more than $100,000 in 2010 includes:
Tony Chong, chief administrative officer: $201,750
Barry Becker, director of parks and rec: $157,964
Mindy Smith, director of corporate services: $155,751
Laura Lee Richard, director of development services: $138,593
Alan Nicholson, deputy fire chief: $123,714
Terry Hochstetter, deputy fire chief -$122,764
Jim Maitland, manager of finance -$122,710
David Currie, manager of transportation -$122,183
Barbara Wilton, manager of human resources -$122,118
Kerry Stubbert, deputy fire chief: $121,769
John McLean, manager of engineering projects: $120,018
Larry Wheeler, deputy director of parks and recreation -$119,284
Gordon Voncina, engineering operations -$117,733
Todd Gross, manager of parks services -$114,963
Susan Rauh, corporate officer -$114,443
William Wiseman, deputy treasurer -$112,822
Timothy Arthur, manager of building permits -$111,022
Robin Wishart, manager of information services -$111,022
Ted Baranyai, fire captain -$108,378
Steven Brown, section manager -$106,655
Gary Goff, foreman -$105,997
Dieter Kulhanek, fire captain -$103,190
Rob Trousdell, training captain: $102,919
William Slaughter, fire captain: $102,513
John Pearson, fire captain -$102,176
