New Westminster’s former fire Chief Tim Armstrong took home more than $300,000 in 2021.
Armstrong had remuneration of $324,081 and expenses of $4,725, for a total of $328,806. In recent years, Armstrong has just crossed the $200,000 threshold ($200,574 in 2019 and $201,603 in 2018).
City officials have stated that Armstrong retired in October 2021, after talking some time off last summer.
In addition to Armstrong, four other city employees had remuneration of more than $200,000 last year.
Lisa Spitale, the city’s chief administrative officer, led the way with remuneration of $285,590 and expenses of $1,260.
Dean Gibson, director of parks and recreation, was paid $210,742 (expenses of $371), with Richard Fong, director of human resources, was close behind at $210,202 (expenses of $1,231).
Rod Carle, general manager of the city’s electric utility, had remuneration of $207,921, plus $268 in expenses.
Each year, the City of New Westminster releases a statement of financial information that includes a variety of reports, including the remuneration and expenses of city employees exceeding $75,000.
The recently released report shows that 301 City of New Westminster employees earned more than $75,000 in 2021. In addition to the five who topped the $200,000 mark, 22 earned between $150,000 and $199,999; 150 were paid $100,000 to $149,999; 38 had remuneration of $90,000 to $99,999; 61 received $80,000 to $89,999; and 25 earned $75,000 to $79,999.
According to the schedule of employee remuneration and expenses, the tab for all 301 employees earning $75,000 or more in 2021 was $34,178,915 (including expenses). When the remuneration of all other civic employees earning less than $75,000 (excluding sworn police officers) was added to the mix, the city spent $59,914,484 on remuneration and expenses in 2021.
The statement of financial information also includes reports on council remuneration and expenses, suppliers of goods and services of over $25,000, audited consolidated financial statements and any severance agreements with employees.
The 2021 SOFI report, included in the June 27 city council agenda, stated the city reached one severance agreement with a non-unionized employee during the 2021 fiscal year. That agreement represented a total of 13 months of compensation.
