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VOL. 100 NO. 104
Pay increases too high, Thapar
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AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter After voicing his disagreement over pay increases of senior level city staff, Coun. Sushil Thapar says his concerns were confirmed once his comparative request was fulfilled. “Since 2009 some of these salaries have increased by more than $30,000,” he said, pointing out he’s been in office since 2002 and seen even higher increases. Thapar’s request of comparative salaries from 2009 to 2014: • City manager, 2009, $125,000 to 2014, $155,000; • Director of corp admin and finance, 2009, $92,500, 2014, $125,000; • Director of engineering, 2009, $85,000, 2014, $110,000; • Director of community services, 2009, $93,600, 2014, $ 105,000; • Director of development services, 2009, $58,000, 2014, $90,000. “These increases are too much,” Thapar said, adding he feels City Hall is “top-heavy.” “Raises like this should come to council for discussion.” City manager Byron Johnson pointed to each position evolving over the last five years. “The city directors have all had either a promotion or significant additions to their job,” he said. For example the director of finance has taken on “administration leadership roles, human resources and records management, as well as heading up the Freedom of Information Department, head of IT department and is now deputy city manager.” Director of engineering also had added responsibilities to his portfolio, including road maintenance and construction, water, sewer, parks statutory subdivision approving officer. Director of community services is now also responsible for airport and transit portfolios; while director of development services has risen from a planner with CUPE to a director and is responsible for planning, building sustainability and bylaw services. “The individual position have changed over time,” Johnson said. “Typically that is when pay increases kick in.” As for the city manager’s increase, salary was negotiated at time of re-employment with the city. Still, Thapar says, the increases are “far too much” pointing to the city’s loss of industrial tax base and aging infrastructure. “And remember you can add about 20 per cent for benefits,” he said. “It’s just insane.”
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Art in the Park On Saturday, artists were in LeBourdais Park demonstrating their skills and allowing the public, including this budding young painter, to try their hand at some of the genres. For more photos see Wednesday’s Observer. Autumn MacDonald photo
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