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Powell River Regional District releases earnings statement

Powell River Regional District recently released its financial report, including amounts of remuneration for its board members and staff.

Powell River Regional District recently released its financial report, including amounts of remuneration for its board members and staff.

Local governments are required by provincial law to provide the public with annual salaries and expenses of elected officials and senior civil servants.

According to the report, chair and Electoral Area A director Patrick Brabazon was the highest paid board member in 2016, earning $27,524.26 and incurring $6,812.34 in expenses.

Board director earnings, as well as senior staff salaries of more than $75,000 per year, are available through the report, which the board approved on Thursday, June 22.

“We are open and transparent,” said Brabazon. “There are no hidden benefits to either staff or directors and everything we do is really out in public view, unlike senior governments.”

Brabazon said provincial and federal governments, which set the rules for local government, are not required to provide the same level of financial reporting.

“It’s hypocrisy,” he added.

Elected regional district officials cost taxpayers $134,060.09 in 2016 with total expenses of $35,117.83. Expenses can include costs for conference attendance, such as Union of BC Municipalities and Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and mileage for regional district-related meetings.

Electoral Area E director Merrick Anderson, who represents Lasqueti Island on the board, made $20.729.28 and had the highest expenses at $13,728.36.

To attend monthly board meetings Anderson takes a ferry to Vancouver Island, then drives to Comox before taking another ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Powell River. Anderson participates by teleconference for the board’s committee meetings.

Electoral Area B director Stan Gisborne, who is currently on medical leave, was paid $922.67 and had $50 in expenses; Electoral Area C director Colin Palmer was remunerated $22,922.90 with $6,220.45 in expenses; and Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick was remunerated $19,272.83 for her service and had $4,757.75 in expenses.

Seven alternate directors were paid a total of $19,601.12, with $17,701.12 going to Alan Rebane, who is currently sitting in for Gisborne. Expenses for the alternates totalled $2,605.60.

City of Powell River board director Russell Brewer was remunerated $11,457 with $50 in expenses and his fellow city board director CaroleAnn Leishman was paid $11,430.03 and had $843.33 in expenses.

Among regional district staff, chief administrative officer Al Radke had the top earnings at $132,297.25. Radke incurred $12,893.20 in expenses.

The next-highest paid regional district staff members were manager of community services Mike Wall at $100,288.98 and $9,842.54 in expenses, manager of administrative services Brenda Paquin at $97,762.69 and $3,483.83 in expenses, and manager of planning services Laura Roddan at $97,549.90 and $4,824.20 in expenses.