Port Coquitlam’s chief administrative officer (CAO) leaves the top city job next month.
And he’ll do so with substantially more in his pocket than when he started in 2012.
John Leeburn, who will be replaced July 27 by PoCo’s engineering and public works director Kristen Dixon, took over from long-time CAO Tony Chong with a salary of around $194,000.
Six years later, he’ll exit with a base wage of more than $224,000.
Leeburn’s hefty salary is one of 125 remunerations above $75,000 listed in 2017 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI), a disclosure document released each June by B.C. municipalities that provide base wages, benefits, compensation and expenses to employees and council.
The 2017 report, which shows the city payroll at $30.3 million, includes the names and salaries of more than 60 firefighters; the schedule also accounts for four severance agreements the city entered to with non-unionized workers in 2017.
Leeburn’s wage of $224,123 last year was $74,210 less than Coquitlam’s CAO Peter Steblin, who runs a city with a population of about 135,000 — costing $2.20 per person. By comparison, Leeburn earned $3.86 per person for PoCo’s headcount of around 58,000 while Port Moody’s CAO Tim Savoie took in $208,102 last year for his city of 33,000, at $6.30 per resident.
The SOFI report, which is set to be approved at Tuesday’s city council meeting, also outlines the politicians’ cost as they gear up for their re-election campaigns (the municipal and school board votes take place Oct. 20).
Mayor Greg Moore, who is not running for another term, took in a total of $115,500 last year; his base pay, which is adjusted each year to the Consumer Price Index, was $94,484 (up from $92,270 in 2016) while councillors each reaped $36,972 (up from $36,105 in 2016).
As in previous years, first-time councillor Laura Dupont charged the highest amount in expenses at $8,015 while Coun. Brad West claimed the least at $3,021.
PoCo council’s total bill came in at $391,881 for base salary, benefits, compensation and expenses — less than half of what Coquitlam’s nine council members cost (Coun. Dennis Marsden claimed the most at $14,032 followed by Coun. Bonita Zarrillo at $13,352 and Coun. Teri Towner at $11,354).
Port Moody's SOFI report is also due to be released Tuesday at its city council meeting.
Top 10 city administrators
Base Total (benefits, expenses)
1. John Leeburn, CAO $224,123 $236,163
2. Laura Lee Richard, director of development ser. $171,853 $185,054
3. Kristen Dixon, director of engineering, public works $171,853 $182,483
4. Karen Grommada, director of finance $171,853 $142,911
5. Nick Delmonico, fire chief $171,842 $187,751
6. Lori Bowie, director of recreation $150,596 $156,622
7. Randy Minaker, dep. F/C protect. services $150,587 $165,973
8. Robert Kipps, dep. F/C facilities, training $150,586 $178,750
9. Robin Wishart, director of corporate services $150,596 $163,786
10. Siu Tse, dep. director of engineering, operations $150,596 $156,357
• PoCo city employees making a base salary of $100,000 or more: 54
• PoCo city employees making a base salary of $75,000 or more: 153
