Abbotsford's new city manager George Murray decided to publicize details of his contract, including that he'll earn $230,000 in 2013.
Photograph by: File photo , Abbotsford Times
Abbotsford's new city manager George Murray will earn $230,000 plus benefits in 2013, according to information released on Tuesday.
The city also released details of Murray's contract that include six weeks of vacation and a work vehicle or car allowance of $700 per month.
Murray will also receive dental and medical benefits life insurance and a pension.
However, Murray is not eligible for overtime pay and will serve a probationary period of one year.
In a Feb. 19 report to council, Murray noted the city's regular financial reporting practices meant his salary would not officially become public until June 2014.
He also noted that the city is not obliged to provide his contract information.
"Given the time of my hiring and the fact there will be no disclosure of salary information until 2014, I believe it is prudent for council to receive a public report that discloses my employment contract information," wrote Murray.
Murray, who started Feb. 4, replaced former city manager Frank Pizzuto who was paid a year's compensation totaling $321,000, including benefits and owed vacation, after he resigned in December.
Neither Pizzuto nor the city offered comment about his departure.
Pizzuto had been the city's highest-paid staff member, earning $249,005 in 2011.
Abbotsford Bruce Banman said council took Murray's suggestion to publicize the details of his contract in an effort to promote transparency in government and build public trust.
Murray's contract has included a longer probationary period and lower annual salary than in the past to ensure a better deal for taxpayers, said Banman.
"I don't believe Mr. Pizzuto had a probationary period or it was ridiculously short, and the lower salary, that's the overall trend," he said.
"We're trying to get as much value for the taxpayer as we can."
Banman said the city manager is the only staffer council hires and fires directly, but he said he would encourage other general managers at the city to reveal their employment contracts.
Murray's contract states that after his probation period the city can terminate his employment for cause without notice.
Without cause, the city can fire Murray with reasonable notice or provide compensation in lieu of notice, or a combination of the two, for the equivalent of 12 months.
Murray, who heads a city with a population of 133,000, will earn less in 2013 than other city managers of municipalities of comparable size in B.C.
District of Langley (pop. 104,000) municipal administrator Mark Bakken earned $288,000 in 2011.
Kelowna (pop. 117,000) city manager Ronald Mattiussi earned $250,752 the same year while Coquitlam (pop. 126,000) city manager Peter Steblin earned 237,585.
In 2010, Chilliwack (pop. 77,936) chief administrative officer Peter Monteith earned $231,306.
Before arriving in Abbotsford, Murray worked as chief administrative officer for the Fraser Valley Regional District and before that, as secretary-treasurer with the Abbotsford School District.
http://twitter.com/RochelleBaker1
http://twitter.com/abbytimes
