Its not about the money, Ive been told over the years when I mention I cant afford a waterfront vacation home in the Okanagan or tickets to follow the Baltimore Orioles for a season or catch Neil Young over a couple of nights in NYC.
More times than naught, its people who have that villa in the Okanagan, are on the road with the surging Orioles and been backstage with Neil that are imparting the meaning of life mumbo jumbo.
But then an inexplicably liberalizing thought struck me: Man, if only I were a Vancouver city councillor, Id be rolling in the dough. Well, maybe not exactly rolling. But as Ive written before in this space, the $64,386 salary of a councillor is not the only cash the likes of Geoff Meggs and Raymond Louie pull in when on the job.
For starters, theres the $2,679 per month that goes to the councillor serving as deputy mayor. Then, of course, theres the cash those lucky ones tuck in their wallets for being directors with Metro Vancouver.
Which leads me to the point of this entry: The release of Metro Vancouvers 2011 Statement of Financial Information, which lets Jack and Jill Taxpayer know how much politicians and staff earned last year.
Ill begin with Visions now-retired George Chow, who got an extra $1,335 for his troubles, which was really chump change compared to Heather Deal who collected $13,700.
Vision colleague Louie eclipsed Deal with his $14,300 but he wasnt even close to city councils biggest greenback collector, Tim Stevenson, who raked in an impressive $24,615 and wracked up another $3,525 in expenses.
I rang up Stevenson to ensure the figure wasnt a misprint and to find out why he received more than enough cash to spend a weekend in NYC to see Neil.
Im on the board and I was also on three committees and chaired the waters committee, he said, noting all chairpersons also meet once a month. So thats why I had that much. This year, Im not a board member and Im only on two committees, so youll see it drop substantiallyprobably by half this year.
Meggs earned $12,645, Robertson got $5,280 while Jang and Woodsworth, who were considered alternates, took home a measly $670 each.
This year, Louie stands to earn more than all his colleagues, having been elected vice-chair of the board. Last years vice-chair, District of North Vancouver mayor Richard Walton earned $33,161 while then-board chair Lois Jackson made $66,887 on top of her salary as mayor of Delta.
The financial report reveals the biggest money earner at Metro was none other than the guy who used to run the show. That would be the now retired chief administrative officer, Johnny Carline, who is no doubt enjoying a happy retirement after collecting $343,651 last year.
Wonder if he likes the Orioles?
Party favours
Suzanne Anton is throwing a party.
The former NPA councillor/failed mayoral candidate is hosting her annual garden party June 25 to raise money for the Heritage Vancouver Society.
I received two invitations but sadly cant make it; its also $100 a pop. I know, I know, its for a good cause.
Those confirmed to go include fellow NPAers George Affleck and Elizabeth Ball. Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr will be there. Heck, even Vision will be represented by Heather Deal and Geoff Meggs, who no doubt will be quizzed by guests about his decision to seek a nomination with the provincial NDP.
Which, if he wins and the NDP knocks off Premier Christy Clark and the Liberals, will mean a bigger payday for him.
An MLA earns more than $100K per year.
Twitter: @Howellings
