Spallumcheen council has tried to watch its spending when it comes to out-of-town travel.
The township has released its 2014 council remuneration and expenses, suppliers of goods and services and employee remuneration and expenses report.
Mayor Janice Brown topped the council list with a stipend (minus GST/HST rebate) of $18,367.76, and $4,150.89 in travel and conference expenses for a total of $22,518.65.
“We’re always very conscious about when we go (to a conference), when we come back, making sure we don’t go early, making sure we attend everything we go to and making sure we report back on it,” said Brown.
“I think we’ve kept expenses in line pretty good.”
Councillors Andrew Casson, Christine Fraser, Todd York and Joe Van Tienhoven were paid $9,557.03 for their council duties. Ed Hanoski was paid $9,419.44. Former councillor Rachael Ganson, who did not seek re-election in the November 2014 municipal vote, made $8,625.86. Christine LeMaire, who was elected to replace Ganson on council, made $766.98 and had no expenses in 2014.
The other councillors claimed between $1,901.15 (Casson) and $3,958 (Hanoski) in travel expenses.
“We make choices, based on how much value we get out of certain things, as to whether or not we attend,” said Brown.
In total, the township paid $94,324 in council remuneration and expenses in 2014.
Spallumcheen spent nearly $8 million on suppliers of goods and services.
The largest payment went to Vernon Paving of nearly $1.5 million for paving a portion of Hullcar Road from Deep Creek Road to Pyott Road, Stepping Stones Crescent and a portion of Salmon River Road to Knob Hill.
Five Spallumcheen employees are paid a salary of $75,000 or higher per year, led by public works manager Ed Forslund at $100,353.28.
Also on the list are chief administrative officer Corey Paiement ($96,438.82), public works foreman Duane Sintich ($84,511.74), chief finanical officer Brian Freeman-Marsh ($80,683.85) and fire inspector Alastair Crick ($77,751.67).
The five combined to submit nearly $8,800 in expenses, led by Paiement with $5,771.26. Forslund claimed no expenses in 2014.
The township paid out a total of $1,137,326.17 to council and employees and $39,985.10 in expenses.
