Kathy Michaels - Penticton Western News Published: July 02, 2009 6:00 PM
Those wondering who makes the big money in Penticton, should shift their gaze over to city hall. Of salaries paid in 2008, more than 14 of the city’s top staffers can boast a wage of over $100,000 before expenses, while 36 others make more than $75,000 annually. The city’s highest paid worker was administrator Leo den Boer, who pulled in $156,085. The next highest wage went to director of corporate services Jack Kler and director of development and engineering Mitch Moroziuk, who made just over $129,000 a piece. When all was said and done, the top 50 earners in this city cost about $14,236,286, with the total city payroll coming in at $19,007,961. Politician’s wages were more modest and councillors and the mayor raked in about $180,968 collectively.
According to Dennis Back, the current city administrator, local wages are about en par with municipal wages in like-sized cities such as Port Coquitlam, Campbell River and Kamloops — though Penticton is not the most lucrative place to go into public service. “Every three years we find out where we are relative to market and that’s something we are looking at right now,” he said. “We don’t compare favourably at all when we compare ourselves to Kelowna, but (it’s) a substantially bigger community. That is why the comparisons have to be relative.” While Back said local wages are standard if not slightly lagging behind, Coun. Dan Albas — who earlier lobbied for a city council pay cut — noted it is something that city council will look closely at as a means to address questions raised in the budgetary process.
“Some say to attract the best staff, we have to pay them the most. Personally I don’t buy into the argument,” said Albas. “I think people go to public service versus working in the private sector because they feel a sense of duty. They want to be fairly compensated, but to always be constantly raising wages? I don’t agree with that personally.” Albas went on to say that he’s aware of a recent report on business executive compensation over the last year, and in the private sphere Canadian CEOs are making about 10 per cent less than they did the year before. While matching what private-sector workers are paid is one way to look at the issue, Albas said that it’s not necessarily the most important. “The real argument is what’s the scope of working duties,” he said. “Penticton is a unique place, it’s neither a big city or a small town. It’s that awkward position in the middle. So I think it’s important that we are always looking at those things and we will get the best people if we pay fairly and have a great work environment.”
While there’s room for discussion on rates, one area the city falls behind is the proportion of women in its high paying ranks. Only five women were among the 50 employees who earned $75,000 or more in 2008. “We don’t hire on the basis of gender, we try to hire for the best person,” explained Back. “We like to advance females within the organization, and if we have a posting and they apply then we give them equal consideration. But we hire for who’s the best person for the job, not male or female. But we do try and encourage advancement for the organization, including women.” While Penticton currently has few women in managerial roles, that’s not necessarily an indication of how conditions are in other cities, and Back said in his time working for the City of Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver, he’s noticed a shift. “I can tell you that over the years there are more women that are being attracted to local government work, and advancing into managerial roles,” he said. “We are also attracting professionals who want to make a career in local government and advancing to senior ranks.”
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