Chris Pieper calls it commitment.
Commitment to job and commitment to the taxpayers.
Armstrong’s mayor is referring to the expenses he and his council submitted as part of their duties in 2010, which includes attending conferences and meetings on behalf of the city.
The city’s annual report shows Pieper made a salary of $20,974 and submitted $2,333 in expenses.
All six councillors made $11,935 in remuneration, with Shirley Fowler submitting the most expenses, $2,580. Coun. Paul Britton submitted just $200 in expenses while Coun. Ron (Sully) O’ Sullivan didn’t claim any.
In total, council earned just over $103,000 in remuneration and expenses.
“Ever since I’ve been on council we’ve tried to keep expenses down,” said Pieper.
“Our major expense, probably 80-to-85 per cent, is one event and that’s when we go to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. If somebody doesn’t go to UBCM, expenses are usually a couple of hundred bucks or less.”
City administrator Patti Ferguson submitted the most staff expenses in 2010, $4,855, but Pieper said that’s because Ferguson has a couple of extra meetings to attend.
“They all strictly have to do with her job, 100 per cent,” said Pieper.
According to the report, Ferguson is one of three city employees who make more than $75,000. Ferguson makes $110,820, public works manager Pat Hickerson is paid $78,600 and water/waste-water operator Kerry Fox makes $78,156.
All other employees with the city, combined, were paid $555,204.
In total, the city paid its employees, with expenses included, just under $845,000 in 2010.
Armstrong paid nearly $7 million to suppliers last year.
