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Ka-ching! Big bucks for city staffers Abbotsford’s top earners get wages comparable to top provincial political salaries ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
H
a rd o n t h e h e e l s o f the controversy over increases to the maximum salaries of the B.C. premier’s political staff last week, Abbotsford has released data regarding what it paid out to its employees in 2012. A number of top earners at city hall received com-
pensation that surpassed the $200,000 mark, and the majority of the 10 best-paid employees earn more than $150,000. The statement of financial information, which details all city employees who earned more than $75,000 in 2012, will be presented at the city council meeting on Monday. Provincial taxpayers expressed outrage after learn-
ing on June 11 that premier Christy Clark’s chief of staff’s max salary will be now be capped at $230,000. But in comparison, former city manager Frank Pizzuto remained Abbotsford’s best-paid employee in 2012 earning $252,365, up from $249,005 the year prior. That figure doesn’t include the year’s compensation totaling $321,000, including
benefits and owed vacation, which Pizzuto received after he resigned in December. Neither Pizzuto nor the city ever offered comment about the reasons behind his departure. Jim Gordon, general manager of engineering and regional utilities, was the city’s second highest earner, banking $205,669 in 2012, up from $200,128 in 2011.
Jay Teichroeb, general manager of economic development and planning, rounded out the top three, pulling in $201,603 in 2012, up from $192,148 in 2011. Teichroeb saw his earnings increase by 4.9 per cent in 2012; that followed an increase of 15 per cent the year prior. However, increases among the city’s top earners were more moderate in 2012 than
in past, with the highest jumps topping 5.6 per cent, compared to increases ranging between eight and 20 per cent in 2011. The city’s general manger of finance and corporate services, Patricia Soanes, and Michael Pastro, manager of the Abbotsford airport both received raises of 5.6 per cent. See SALARIES, page A5
Harvest day for young farmers JEAN KONDA-WITTE JKonda-Witte@abbotsfordtimes.com
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eachers at Prince Charles Elementary School in Abbotsford took the classroom to the garden Wednesday morning as their young charges harvested vegetables they’d started from seeds months earlier at the community garden on DeLair Road. “The kids have made the connection between the seeds and growing vegetables that they can enjoy,” said kindergarten teacher Gail Chan. With help from moms and preschoolers, it really brought the classroom community together, she added. The initiative was a joint effort between the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, Abbotsford Community Garden Society and the City of Abbotsford. Prince Charles and Terry Fox elementary schools took park in planning, planting and growing their gardens, which they visited four times this year. “When it’s fresh, you notice a difference in taste,” said Grade 5 teacher Royce Eberding, whose students also picked bags of fresh lettuce and other produce. “We’re trying to promote a healthy lifestyle.”
SCAN FOR PHOTOS JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
Kindergarten students from Prince Charles Elementary School in Abbotsford harvested the vegetables they planted at the community garden on DeLair Road Wednesday morning. Later in the day, students from Terry Fox Elementary also picked their produce.
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