By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: April 20, 2012
Squamish councillors voted to give themselves a salary raise of 30 per cent, but the council isn’t the only one getting the raise. A FOI request by the Squamish Reporter reveals as many as 32 district officials are also getting a pay bump.
At a regular council meeting on Tuesday, April. 17, the council voted to raise the Mayor’s salary to $62,500 annually and councillor’s salary to be 43 per cent of Mayor’s salary.
The new councillor salary would be $26, 875. This represents a budget allocation of $51,000 or about 0.3 per cent.
It would be second time in two years that council salary will rise, a move proposed by Coun. Bryan Raiser, and supported by Coun. Patricia Henintzman, Coun. Susan Chapelle, and Coun, Ted Prior.
The salary raise was opposed by Mayor Rob Kirkham, Coun. Ron Sander, and most fervently, by Coun. Doug Race.
Doug Race was visible upset and he let his anger known. It was an issue not of money, but one of principle, he added.
“This is a difficult year for Squamish tax payers with the increase in taxes and utilities, and we should not be standing in line begging from them,” he said.
“I’m ashamed that council salary is going to be raised again.”
Race has decided to donate his share of the increase, $6,000, to district coffers.
Meantime, the council also voted to increase the salary of 32 exempt staff members by $97,000.
The salary increase costs, however, have been offset by a reduction in benefits for exempt employees, which has resulted in lower premiums. This would save the district more than effectively put the increase at $44,000.
The salary increase for exempt staff was decided in an in-camera meeting.
Mayor Kirkham said the salary hike was important to “recruit and retain high quality talent in our competitive environment.”
In the fall of 2011, council authorized a salary review by a private consultant, who found that exempt salaries were well below the average and not competitive.
Kirkham said the council authorized a change in the overall rate structure, to be implemented in 2012, as part of the budget process.
“This was a responsible decision for Council to make in any budget year as it ensures the district can attract and retain qualified employees. It is important for the municipality to be recognized as a great employer and able to attract and retain the highest quality employees to serve the community’s interests,” he said.
For each of the officials, the salaries have only increased by a few thousand dollars, but some have made solid gains within the past two years.
Here’s the list:
(2011) (2012)
Kevin Ramsay $ 163,000 $ 171,552
Cameron Chalmers $116,905 $120,600
Robin Arthurs $108,721 $113,900
Brian Barnett $108, 721 $113,900
Linda Glenday $108, 721 $113,900
Joanne Greenlees $112,228 $116,905
Russ Inouye $108,722 $108,722
Tim Hoskin $100,266 $105,000
Bob Smith $92,248 $95,224
Chris Bishop $89,272 $94,500
Bob Fulton $99,191 $99,191
Janet Guggins $83,019 $85,500
Conrad Kordel $74,717 $80,750
Neil Plumb $83,019 $ 85,500
Marcia Collier $83,019 $85,500
Jenni Chancey $77,208 $80,750
Greig Garland $79,698 $83,019
Rod MacLeod $79,697 $80,750
Camilla Say $77,208 $80,750
Christine Matthews $83,019 $85,500
Christie Smith $67,925 $69,300
Kristine Day $70,189 $73,150
Sabina Foofat $75,471 $77,000
Amica Antonelli $72,453 $73,150
Sarah McJannet $75,765 $77,000
Dan Griffin $70,193 $73,150
Julie Morris $70,193 $73,150
Dan McRae $70,189 $73,150
Charlene Pawluck $65,175 $69,300
Jim Lang $62,102 $63,000
Kate O’Connell $55,148 $57,950
Adriana Hume $32,021 $32,640
Brad Hodge says
Well, we did elect Bryan RAISEr, right? 🙂 But honestly, Bryan Raiser campaigned on this issue, among others. So I don’t fault him for voting for this — it can be interpreted as a mandate.
I agree with him and others who say Councillors aren’t paid enough for what they do. A part time Council means one either has to be retired or of great means to serve. Or else they have to retain their day job which opens up all kinds of avenues for conflicts of interest. Having a full time Council I think is desirable. I agree with Ron Sander and others that Council should be about service, but you know, the military does us the ultimate service and even they get paid a decent wage. Very few people are in a position to work at or near free and that limits the pool of talent.
However if I’d been sitting with this Council I would have voted No anyway. We talked about optics at one point during the campaign, and Coun. Race brought it up here. I don’t think it should be Councillors themselves setting their own pay, we should devise a mechanism to consult with taxpayers. It just doesn’t look right, and in politics, if it doesn’t look right, generally it isn’t.
As for staff.. I would like to see a bit more obedience from senior staff of Council’s wishes. And I would like the two of them to stop hiding behind each other and playing the blame shell game when things aren’t getting done. Otherwise I might be inclined in the next election to make a point of seeking a pay CUT… and some pink slips.
Don Patrick says
Have difficulty in understanding that good people are hard to get unless the DOS can offer higher saleries….firstly we are buying people in an environment that is over loaded with experienced and superior talents. The corporations are cutting back all around the world, and if Squamish is such a good place to live then it could be assumed that a few of these people would consider a employment move to this area as a positive….not for over abundance in the kitty. One thing that goes amiss at city hall is the reliance on some head hunting employment firm making the decisions of who is a good fit… and of course since it is an out of town consulting firm, the decision must be correct. Hog Wash… been proven many times over, but I guess our leaders are just poor learners.
jasdeep says
I support the pay raise. We need full time councillors with decent salary to attract talent. And we need to make them accountable for judiciously spending our tax dollars.
Bianca Peters says
After speaking with people about the pay raise, we all agreed it would have been more appropriate to see Doug Race and other members of council who voted against the pay increase to donate their extra salaries to one of the many worthwhile non-profit group in our community. Perhaps Mr, Raiser could be the one to take the lead on this?
Larry McLennan says
How many of the District Employees would quit without a pay raise. I’ll go out on a limb here and say zero. Don’t forget all the other benefits they get as public employees. Raises for Council should not come into effect until after the next election. Immediately raising the remuneration dosen’t make them any more capable than before. As to the time put in by Council, it would be interesting to have each Councilor provide a regular accounting of time spent and duties performed to verify professed hours per week or month. Congratulations to Doug Race for remitting the raise back to the District.
brian hughes says
Dear Mayor and Council:
Re: Mayor and Council compensation increases
In the 22 years I have resided in Squamish I have never felt compelled to comment publicly on the issue of compensation for the Mayor and Council. However, the level of audacity displayed by four councilors on April 17, 2012 in supporting a 30% wage increase for themselves, has prompted this response.
On January 1, 2012, approximately one month into your term, you received an approximate 10% wage increase that was part of a remuneration package set by the previous Council. You all allowed your names in 2011 to stand for election to the Council position, knowing full well the level of compensation offered for the position.
Now approximately three and one-half months into your term you feel you have earned and deserve a wage increase of 30%.
Your sprint to the trough is unprecedented in both the level of the increase, as well as the economic times the town and its citizens are experiencing.
There is no cheque easier to write than the one drawn on someone else’s account, payable to oneself.
With the increase in the Utilities Assessment just coming due, coupled with the anticipated 7.5% property tax increase on the horizon, this level of wage increase demonstrates the lack of sensitivity that members of this Council feel for the taxpayer of Squamish.
This is a small town and it does not require full-time councilors. Some councilors claim they are spending 20-40 hours per week on council business. This claim sounds like a ready excuse to try and justify an unconscionable increase. I have spoken with former mayors and councilors of Squamish, and they all agreed that it was the rare week when even 20 hours was required. Fifteen hours was the average time per week that was required to fulfill the duties of the office.
There is also the concept that historically these positions have an aspect of “public service“attached to them. The positions are not supposed to become a person’s full time job. This public service aspect to the position incorporates some of the values of volunteerism. No one is asking you to do this work for free, but given the economic times this increase feels like a cash grab by the four councilors who voted for the increase.
It would be unfair to criticize without suggesting some solutions.
Firstly, in the short term there should be a rescinding of the wage increase of 30%.
In the long term I have two suggestions:
Appoint a citizen’s committee to make binding recommendations regarding the appropriate levels of compensation for Mayor and Council;
Secondly a vote on any increase to the Mayor and Council’s compensation will not become effective until the first day of a new Council’s mandate following a municipal election. This method ensures that the citizens can question Council members on the rationale for any increase of wages. It also allows citizens to use their vote to remove any councilor who is voting him or herself an increase that is not in keeping with the reality of the times. Put another way – politicans who feel the heat often see the light.
This is my second letter in 22 years to Mayor and Council. Edward R. Murrow said “a nation of sheep begets a government of wolves.” Your actions in respect of this 30% increase have awakened this sheep. This pack mentality with respect to the Mayor and Councilors compensation must be stopped. Squamish can not afford now, or in the future, this type of clumsy effort by our elected officials to feather their nest at the expense of the taxpayer. Council should be ashamed, and the four who voted in favour of the increase should be shamed.
If you have any comments in regards to this issue, please note them in an email and forward them to me at bnh53@yahoo.ca. I will pass them along to the Mayor and Council on your behalf.
Riun Blackwell says
Servants are worth their hire
Lets trust in the wisdom of our choices
Not insult them