Wages at the District of Squamish increased by just 2.5 per cent between 2009 and 2010, adding $242,394 to the total municipal wage package.
The total in 2009 was $9,418,874, increasing to $9,661,268 in 2010 according to the district's 2010 Statement of Financial Information, released this week.
The statement was actually due to the province at the end of June, but was delayed during its financial statements and audit. Council approved the statement at a special meeting on Tuesday, and the information will be forwarded to the province.
The increase this year was significantly less than between 2008 and 2009, where the total wage package increased by almost half a million dollars.
As well as total wages, municipalities are required by the Local Government Act to reveal the salaries of all employees earning over $75,000 per year. In 2008 there were 28 District of Squamish (DOS) employees over that threshold, increasing to 33 in 2009. That number actually decreased in 2010 to just 27 employees.
The total wages for staffers making over $75,000 was $2,588,565, representing about 46 per cent of the total wages budget. In 2009, the 33 employees making over $75,000 accounted for $3,087,604 of the total.
The highest paid employee at the district in 2010 was Kevin Ramsay, the chief administrative officer (CAO) at $174,789, followed by DOS Fire Chief Tom Easterbrook at $120,105. Other employees making over $100,000 were Robin Arthurs, the director of administrative services at $104,272; Cameron Chalmers, the general manager of community services, at $117,302; firefighter Bob Fulton at $111,034; Mick Gottardi, the community development director, at $114,674; fire captain Russell Inouye at $116,712; and firefighter Sean Sweeney at $103,552.
Squamish-Lillooet Regional District seeking new administrator and planning, administrative services directors
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is without a permanent administrator, administrative services director and planning director after a fell swoop of resignations this summer.
The resignation of Administrator Paul Edgington in early August was followed soon after by the departure of Leslie Lloyd, the manager of admistrative services who was serving as administrator on an interim basis, who has left the SLRD to take a job as administrator of the Village of Cache Creek.
Director of Planning Steve Olmstead also resigned to take a job as planning director for the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
Susie Gimse, the chair of the SLRD board, said Tuesday that the resignations were "not related," and that the latter two have merely left to pursue new career opportunities.
"They're not related, they're just coincidence," she said of the three resignations. "It's just a matter of timing and it's unfortunate, but we certainly appreciate that they're moving on for positive career moves for both of them.
"We wish them well, we hate to see them go, they're both great employees. Like I say, they're moving for career advancement, not because they're unhappy with the SLRD."
