Peachland payroll: Who’s making what
CAO Elsie Lemke
by Dave Preston
Four municipal managers made more individually in 2011 than the combined total of all council members, according to a report released today by the District of Peachland.
The Statement of Financial Information is a yearly report published by each municipality that details a variety of data, including remuneration for all elected officials and those staff members earning in excess of $75,000.
Council members took home a total of $89,831 in 2011, while four town managers were paid more than that individually.
Mayor Keith Fielding received $21,017. 2011 was an election year. Councillors Terry Condon, Vern Moberg and Peter Schierbeck were all re-elected and received $11,469 each for their 12 months of service.
Elected officials were also reimbursed for expenses in 2011. Coun. Lindsay Bell topped the list of reimbursements, being paid back $3,742 in expenses. Coun. Charlette Broadoway came in second with $3,419 and the mayor was reimbursed for $3,265 in expenses.
CAO Elsie Lemke was paid the most in 2011, receiving $134,654 in pay. That represents a $5,443 or 4.2 per cent increase over the $129,211 she received in 2010.
While all other managers received a raise in 2011, the amount Fire Chief Grant Topham was paid went down. Topham was paid $89,093 in 2010. Last year he received $84,308 — $4,785 less or a 5.4 per cent decrease.
All district managers, with the exception of Cheryl Wiebe, director of community services, earned more than $75,000 in 2011. Water mechanics Shawn Grundy and Wayne Marceniuk are also on the disclosure list, taking home $75,341 and $77,917 respectively.
The District of Peachland paid out $89,831 to council members and $2.367 million to employees in 2011.
Here’s a breakdown of management wages:
Elsie Lemke, chief administrative officer
- $134,654 (2011) | $129,211 (2010) | $5,443 increase, 4.2%
Doug Allin, director of operations
- $103,329 (2011) | $101,466 (2010) | $1,863 increase, 1.8%
Doug Pryde, director of finance
- $95,450 (2011) | $93,985 (2010) | $1,465 increase, 1.6%
Dave Smith, director of planning
- $90,760 (2011) | $89,996 (2010) | $764 increase, 0.8%
Polly Palmer, director of corporate services
- $86,126 (2011) | $81,860 (2010) | $4,266 increase, 5.2%
Grant Topham, fire chief
- $84,308 (2011) | $89,093 (2010) | $4,785 decrease, 5.4%
- Excited
- Informed
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
CAO lives in Summerland; I’m sure she holds her breath whenever she thinks about the possibility of Peachland having an investigative team come to town… I believe this little act to be very necessary for the well being of this town. Enough said; I’ve voiced my opinion before.
To clarify my previous note, at the time of writing I stated Five thousand, being Peachlands population, but changed as it did not make sense that that figure with a smaller number of taxpayers supported the renumerations given to the Municipal Staff and Councillors. However I had to make that clear. There is no doubt that wages are too high. Professional Engineers would love to see such high incomes and Engineering Technicians would be delighted with the yearly wage of the Water Operators. An investigation as Summerland went through seems necessary. Some, to coin an expression ‘are getting money for old rope’. In my day if one desired higher renumeration, changed jobs and that still holds today. It is time to get back to the Waldo and Harris era. After these Mayors the Empire building started. Does not the present Council recognize that we are on the brink of a depression and money is hard to come by. Obviously not.
Food for thought.
Later reply………Just to add my couple of cents worth, I wonder… A population of around fifty thousand bodies and a fewer number of taxpayers to pay for these enumerations. All I can add, is of late, the voted-in Councils have been on an Empire building formula for the past few years. Empires fall.
I guess to save money for us locals the Higher authority trimmed the lowly Fire-chief wages..’Something Stinks,
It is a fact that to cross the two top managers does cause every person in Any position to have their feathers clipped. (even the Fire Chief)! one of the most respected and needed persons in town!
Hi Grant!
I’ve heard it said that the fire hall has been challenged to divide their allegiance… remember the old wives tale of “be divided and you will be conquered”!
BUT, there is a leveling agent along a greedy persons way —alway is! No amount of tea in China, would make me want their outcomes.
So what justifies these increases I wonder and what justifies the decrease to the Fire Chief? Seems kinda odd that the rest go up and only one goes down. Is there some sort of formula or something to this?