Port Moody's staffing and council costs changed little from 2014 to 2015, according to its 2015 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI).
Salaries and overtime for staff rose from $19.5 million in 2014 to just over $19.8 million last year; $9.3 million went to staff earning more than $75,000 annually, similar to 2014. Staff expenses climbed by about $75,000 to $318,013.
City staff who earned the greatest salary on the $19.8-million payroll last year included:
• Kevin Ramsay, city manager: $202,716;
• Remo Faedo, fire chief: $156,508;
• Paul Rockwood, financial services general manager: $153,476;
• Ron Higo, community services general manager: $152,946;
• and Angela Parnell, corporate services general manager: $152,946.
Taxpayers also ponied up $232,636 for city council in 2015, an increase of $3,133 from 2014.
Expenses ranged from a high of $5,942, claimed by Coun. Rick Glumac, to the lowest at $1,254 for Coun. Diana Dilworth.
The bulk of Glumac's expenses came from costs associated with attending several conferences: the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Edmonton ($2,084.89); the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) in Harrison Hot Springs ($927.20); the Union of BC Municipalities in Vancouver (1,019.43); and the LMLGA CivX, also in Vancouver ($186.78).
"I'm very active in these organizations," Glumac said, noting he was the first vice-president of LMLGA last year and the Vancouver Metro area representative at UBCM. "I've been working with these organizations quite a bit so it's important to attend and represent Port Moody if we have an opportunity to."
Coun. Zoe Royer, who attended the LMLGA, UBCM and LMLGA CivX, claimed $5,820 in expenses.
Royer, along with councillors Meghan Lahti and Barbara Junker, opted to stay at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel for five nights for the September 2015 UBCM conference, which cost taxpayers $5,245. Glumac and Mayor Mike Clay, whose expenses were $3,644, commuted to the conference; Coun. Rob Vagramov posted a $213.84 hotel bill for the Coastal Coal Harbour Hotel.
[email protected]
@spayneTC
