The second and third-highest-paid Metro Vancouver executives in 2013 are no longer with the regional government, according to statements of financial information released June 27.
Delia Laglagaron, the former deputy chief administrative officer and planning, policy and environment general manager, and Jim Rusnak, former chief financial officer, were paid $293,790 and $224,927 respectively.
Laglagaron was interim replacement for retired CAO Johnny Carline until former Nanaimo Regional District head Carol Mason was named to the top post in the summer of 2012. Mason was the highest-paid employee in 2013 at $298,285 plus $9,850 expenses.
Laglagaron and Rusnak were both in the running for the CAO job. He quit Metro Vancouver and joined Belkorp Industries last October as executive director of corporate development. Rusnak also registered as a provincial lobbyist for the company which operates Cache Creek landfill on contract to Metro Vancouver. Belkorp is opposing Metro Vancouver’s plan to build a waste-to-energy incinerator.
Heather Schoemaker, the director of external relations, had the highest expenses tally at $19,900. The report said Metro Vancouver racked-up $2.7 million in employee expenses.
More than 900 staff members were paid $75,000 or more. The total spent on base salary and taxable benefits was more than $135 million last year.
Chair Greg Moore, the Port Coquitlam mayor, was the highest-paid municipal politician appointed to Metro Vancouver’s board at $70,865 plus $14,588 in expenses. Vice-chair Raymond Louie, a Vancouver city councillor, was paid $35,433 plus $9,165. Other prominent members include: Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie ($45,312), Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan ($37,170), Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts ($10,258) and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson ($5,310).
A total $885,641 was paid to 129 municipal politicians who are appointed by their fellow councillors to the Metro Vancouver board and committees.
Metro Vancouver reported $647.8 million in payments to suppliers of $25,000 or more goods and services. Topping the list was the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C. ($274.3 million).
Seymour-Cap Partnership was paid $35.4 million for work on the twin-tunnel project between the Capilano and Seymour watersheds. The partnership of Frontier-Kemper, J.F. Shea and Aecon took over after 2004-hired Bilfinger-Berger halted work in 2008 over safety fears. Controversial Montreal-based construction and engineering firm SNC-Lavalin is the project manager. The project is targeted for an end-of-2014 completion.
McNally/Aecon JV ($27.7 million) was the third highest-paid company and is working on the $150 million water supply tunnel under the Port Mann Bridge. Belkorp subsidiary Wastech Services Ltd. was fourth on the list at $23.2 million.
