The number of city employees topping the $100,000 is holding steady at 66, but more employees are hitting the $75,000 mark.
A recently released city report indicates that 197 employees were paid more than $75,000 in pay and expenses in 2011, which is an increase from 182 in 2010. Of the 197 employees included in this year's list, one topped $200,000, 65 earned $100,000 or more, 40 earned 90,000 to $99,999, 62 received $80,000 to $89,999 and 29 made $75,000 to $79,999.
City administrator Paul Daminato was once again the city's top earner at $201,166, which was up slightly from the $198,989 he earned in 2010. He also claimed expenses of $2,732.
Fire chief Tim Armstrong was the second high paid staffer at $165,524. His $10,594 in expenses was tops of all employees on the list for 2011.
All totaled, seven city employees earned more than $150,000 in 2011, which was one less than the year before. Dean Gibson, director of parks, culture and recreation - $173,643; Jim Lowrie, director of engineering - $166,387; Gary Holowatiuk, director of finance and information technology - $164,849; Rod Carle, general manager of the electrical utility - $163,211; and Lisa Spitale, director of development services - $160,887, all topped $150,000.
Employees earning more than $130,000 were: Celso Manubay (electrical utility) at $140,903; Merlin Peterson (electrical utility) at $140,616; Joan Burgess (director of human resources) at $138,481; Pierre Gaudreault (electrical utility) at $138,153; Brent Wisheart (deputy fire chief) at $137,712; Rick Page (director of legislative services) at $136,166; and Joanne Edey Nicoll (who has since retired as assistant director of parks, culture and recreation) at $131,728.
Next on the list were: Alvin Chok, (information technology manager) $128,820; Beverly Grieve (director of planning) $127,868; Tim Smith (manager of electrical operations) $126,537; and Arne Hannula (manager of electrical engineering design and planning) $126,510.
Jon McDonald (manager of engineering operations) was next at $126,078, followed by John Hatch, division chief fire prevention/acting deputy fire chief, at $125,625. Earning $123,661 was Eugene Wat (manager of infrastructure planning), while Mitchell Edgar, (manager of economic development) received $122,034 and Julie Spurrell (chief librarian) made $121,299.
Two members of New Westminster Fire and Rescue were next on the list: James Cornell (assistant fire chief) made $119,542; and Alan Hughes (assistant fire chief) received $118,780.
Terry Atherton (manager of buildings and properties) was next with $117,482, while Ron Booth (manager of arenas and Queen's Park facilities) was close behind at $117,178. Mark Wilson (comptroller for the City of New Westminster police board) was hot on their heels at $117,055
A number of employees from various departments also topped the $110,000 threshold including: David Betts (electrical utility) - $115,323; Sam Cirillo (assistant fire chief) - $114,366; Hilary Knowles (manager of aquatics) - $114,160; Diane Perry (manager of community development) - $114,160; Randy Grant (collection services manager) - $114,112; Randy Hutchinson, (powerline technician) - $114,050. They were followed by: Claude LeDoux (manager of horticulture services) - $113,743; Reid Millman (assistant fire chief) - $113,269; Colin Milaney (powerline technician) - $113,012; Wayne Werbovetski (building management coordinator) - $112,831; Roger Emanuels (coordinator of design and construction in the engineering department) - $112,274.
Two city hall managers were next on the list: Keith Coueffin (manager of licensing and integrated services) earned $110,773, and Frank Durante (manager of building inspections) was paid $110,711.
Jason Haight (manager of business operations) received $109,611,
while Blair Fryer (communications manager) earned $109,559. Close behind were Tom Hill (fire captain) at $109,350 and Brodie Harkness (journey powerline technician) at $109,022.
Trailing behind Colleen Ponzini (manager of financial services) at $108,717, were Roy Moulder (purchasing manager) at $108,717 and Martin Ryberg (fleet services manager) at $108,567. Firefighters took the next two spots on the list with Les Gilbert (fire captain) at $107,980 and Don Embree (assistant fire chief who has since retired) at $107,384.
Richard Fong (assistant director of human resources) was next on the list at $105,541, followed by Catalin Dobrescu (utilities and special project engineer) at $105,067.
Several more firefighters followed, with Ivan Tuura (fire captain) earning $103,715; Bob Rutherford (fire captain) getting $103,470; Greg Simpkins (a fire captain who retired last year) receiving $103,318; and Doug Quinn (fire captain) taking home $103,183. Bob Jack (supervisor of the water branch) was next in line with $102,918, followed by fire captain Derek House at $102,775.
Rounding out the $100,000 club were: Renee Chadwick (manager of Queensborough Community Centre) at $102,174; David Jones (manager of emergency management) at $101,804; Brad MacPherson (fire captain) $100,826; Lesley Cole (manager of Century House) at $100,749; Cheryl Meyers (manager of Victim Assistance for police service) at $100,748; and John Young (assistant fire chief) at $100,931. Just squeaking onto the list was fire captain Greg Dunn at $100,007.
In addition to the annual remuneration, the report also shows business expenses for employees earning $75,000 and more, with those expenses ranging from nothing up to Armstrong's $10,594.
Rick Page, the city's director of legislative services, had the next highest business expenses at $9,206.
The schedule of employee remuneration and expenses doesn't include pay for members of the New Westminster Police Service.
According to the report, employees earning greater than $75,000 in 2011 earned a total of $19.2 million and had expenses of $259,669. Excluding sworn police officers, the City of New Westminster paid $42,768,194 in remuneration and expenses to its employees in 2011.
The report, compiled and released annually, also stated that there were two severance agreements between the city and its non-unionized employees in the 2011 "These agreements represent 12 months of compensation," wrote Joan Burgess, director of human resources.
No further details were provided.
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