The number of City of New Westminster employees earning $100,000 has more than tripled in the past decade.
The city has released its annual statement of financial information, which shows 79 employees were in the $100,000 club in 2013, an increase from 70 in 2012 and 66 in 2011. All totaled, 22 city employees were paid $75,000 to $79,999; 62 received $80,000 to $89,999; 31 got $90,000 to $99,999 and 79 topped the $100,000 mark.
In 2003, 25 city employees earned $100,000 or more – including nine police officers. Since that time, the province asked that names of sworn officers in the New Westminster Police Department not be included in the report of financial information.
With her $183,031, Lisa Spitale becomes the first female to be the top income earner at city hall. Spitale was named the city’s chief administrative officer in April 2013.
In addition to reports about council remuneration and expenses, severance agreements and supplier of goods and services of $25,000 or more, the report includes information about employees earning $75,000 or more.
Spitale was one of seven city employees who earned more than $150,000 last year: Dean Gibson, director of parks, culture and recreation – $174,092; Tim Armstrong, fire chief – $173,961; Gary Holowatiuk, director of finance and information services – $167,899; Rod Carle, general manager of the electrical utility – $168,279; Jim Lowrie, director of engineering – $164,836; Rick Page, director of legislative services – $151,318; and Pierre Gaudreault of the electrical utility – $150,349.
According to the report, the city paid $19.5 million to the employees earning $75,000 or more and an additional $24.9 million for all other city employees (excluding sworn police officers.) In addition to the remuneration, the city also paid $477,523 for city business expenses for employees in 2013
The list of employees earning $100,000 or more includes: Celso Manubay (electrical utility) – $145,699; Jim Wishlove (deputy fire chief) – $145,409; Beverly Grieve (manager of development services) – $144,264; Merlin Peterson (electrical utility) – $142,728; Joan Burgess (director of human resources) – $141,580; and John Hatch (deputy fire chief) – $140,410.
Seven employees received remuneration of $130,000 to $140,000: Arne Hannula (manager of electrical engineering design and planning) – $134,320; Terry Atherton (manager of buildings and properties) – $134,244; Richard Fong (assistant director of human resource) – $132,871; Alvin Chok (manager of information technology) – $132,762; Eugene Wat (manager of infrastructure planning) – $131,657; Jon MacDonald (manager of engineering operations) – $132,282; and Tim Smith (electrical utility) – $130,416.
Three women claimed the next spots on the list: Julie Spurrell (chief librarian) at $126,299; Jan Gibson (acting director of legislative services) at $123,399; and Jennifer Wilson (assistant director of parks, culture and recreation) at $123,368.
Next up were: Eric Westlund (power line technician) – $121,465; Blair Fryer (manager of economic development and communications) – $120,785; Ron Booth (manager of arenas and Queen’s Park facilities) – $120,378; Derek House (fire department) – $119,953;
Anthony MacInnes (fire department) – $119,754; Brodie Harkness (powerline technician) – $119,654; Mark Wilson (comptroller for New Westminster police board) – $118,508; and Tony Malcom (fire department) – $117,822.
Two parks employees were next on the list, with Diane Perry (manager of community development) earning $117,614 and Claude LeDoux (manager of horticulture) making $117,595.
Also making more than $100,000 were: Colin Milaney (powerline technician) – $116,582; Ivan Tuura (fire department) – $116,193; Roger Emanuels (coordinator of design and construction) – $116,143; Hilary Knowles (manager of aquatics) – $115,495; and Colleen Ponzini (manager of financial services) – $114,881.
Brad MacPherson, one of many members of the New Westminster Fire Department on the list, made $114,723.
Up next were: Wayne Werbovetski (building manager coordinator) – $114,598; Jason Haight (manager of business operations) – $114,457; Keith Coueffin (manager of licensing and integrated services) – $113,861; and David Betts (electrical utility) – $113,508.
Firefighters and some city hall staff were next on the list: Alan Hughes (fire) – $112,321; Quinn Knutson (fire) – $112,248; Jerry Behl (transportation engineer) – $112,056; Roy Moulder (purchasing manager) – $112,056; Randy Grant (collection services manager) – $111,906; Scott Torget (fire) – $111,342; Catalin Dobrescu (utilities and special projects engineer) – $111,258; and Frank Durante (manager of building inspections) – $110,601.
Not quite making it to the $110,000 mark were: Chris Bergman (fire) – $109,968; Danny Wilson (fire) – $109,665; Michael Nash (electrical utility) – $108,293; Les Gilbert (fire) – $108,128; Bob Rutherford (fire) – $107,955; Renee Chadwick (manager of Queensborough Community Centre) – $107,746; Dave Phillips (fire) – $107,722; Randy Keen (fire) – $107,495; Doug Quinn (fire department) – $107,447; and Randolph Puchailo (fire) – $106,561; Peter Loss (fire department) – $106,545; and Ron Price (fire department) – $106,483.
David Jones, the city’s manager of emergency management, earned $106,228, followed by David Cole (assistant manager of engineering operations) at $105,727 and firefighter Kevin Murray at $105,155.
Bob Jack (supervisor of the water branch) earned $103,838, a tad more than Lesley Cole (manager of Century House) at $103,830, Greg Magirescu (former manager of culture) at $103,703; Robert MacDonald (fire department) and $103,438 and David Creighton (manager of Centennial Community Centre) at $102,890.
New Westminster firefighters rounded out the rest of the $100,000 club: Jeff Cartwright – $102,740; Don Grossman – $102,092; Greg Dunn – $102,420; Randy Stuber – $102,327; Brent Joel – $101,799; and Bruce Zelter – $101,527. Firefighter Greg Reid just squeaked onto the list with his $100,218 remuneration in 2013.
