Saturday June 26th, 2010 - Coquitlam City Staffers a Well Paid Bunch

Working for the city of Coquitlam apparently pays very well. In 2008 49 city employees got salaries that topped $100,000. In 2009 that number jumped to 91. Peter Steblin, the city manager, earned $226,000. That doesn’t include the $4,498 he spent on expenses. Steblin is also new to the area and was awarded $31,818 in relocating expenses. Second highest paid was John DuMont, the deputy city manager, taking home $203,157.

In total, the city paid out $59 million to cover salary, hourly wages, overtime pay and holiday time. That is $6 million higher than the previous year. Salary for the fire department staff was increased $800,000 in 2009. Another $3.5 million went to CUPE and exempt workers. Part of the increase was due to $1.7 million in back wages paid after settlement of a fire department labour dispute.

City councillors earned $51,641 each and Richard Stewart, the Mayor took in $118,668, a bit more than his predecessor. The good mayor also had $15,493 in expenses. Some of the council members had healthy expense reports as well including Barrie Lynch at $11,016, Linda Raimer showing $10,512 and Selina Robinson coming in at $9,500.