Many municipal employees made more than $100,000 last year
By Bill Rea

Despite the cracks that are sometimes made about public sector employees, the fact is for the most part, they work hard in demanding jobs.

In fact, society as we know it probably could not run without them.

Another fact is they get paid well, especially if they've been on the job a long time and are in the upper echelons of their organization.

The provincial Finance Ministry last week released the list of public sector employees who made more than $100,000 last years, and has been the case in previous years, the list keeps on growing.

King Township now has four members of the "century club," all long-time employees of the municipality.

There was a tie for first place in the salary derby between Township Clerk Chris Somerville and Planning Director Stephen Kitchen. The both pulled down salaries of $103,432.43 last year, and each collected another $1,132.60 in benefits.

Next was Chief Building Official and Director of Building Services Brian Grubbe, who made $102,464.43 plus $1,132.60 in benefits. Township Treasurer and Director of Finance Don Young also made the list, with a salary of $101,132.74, plus $1,548.29 in benefits.

York Region had 165 employees making the list, not counting the members of York Regional Police.

Regional Chair Bill Fisch was among the top earners, with a salary of $187,308.11, plus $1,732.88 in benefits, but he wasn't the highest on the list. Regional CAO Bruce MacGregor was at the top, with a salary of $207,945.75, plus $1,524.21 in benefits.

Other high-earning Regional employees included Joann Simmons, commissioner of community and health services, who made $204,597.17, plus $539.76 in benefits; James Davidson, commissioner of corporate services, with a salary of $190,461.31, plus $514.74; Bryan Tuckey, commissioner of planning and development services, who made $188,047.56, plus $514.74; Lloyd Russell, treasurer and commissioner of finance, $187,033.10, plus $516.30; Karim Kurji, medical officer of health, $185,909.51, plus $512.66; Donald Gorden, general manager of transit, $156,974.23, plus $1,420.67; Paul Jankowski, general manager of roads, $155,519.26, plus $452.67; and Deborah Korolnek, manager of water and wastewater, $155,519.24, plus $452.67.

There were 111 employees of York Regional Police who collected more than $100,000 last year.

Not surprisingly, Chief Armand La Barge was on top of the list, with a salary of $191,946.89, plus $9,447.39 in benefits. Seven other members of the police service were above the $140,000 mark. They were Deputy Chief Bruce Herridge, $160,997.16, plus $3,829.41, Deputy Chief Eric Jolliffe, $153,611.98, plus $3,409.18; Superintendent Wesley Bonner, $146,250.41, plus $7,937.14; Superintendent Randy Horne, $143,060.14, plus $9,101.75; Superintendent Wayne Kalinski, $141,398.10, plus $3,481.83; Superintendent Gordon Smyth, $140,701.83, plus $5,138.24; and Superintendent Christopher Barratt, $140,634.48, plus $5,904.81.

There were more than 200 employees of the York Region District School Board who were over the $100,000 mark. On top of that group was Director of Education Bill Hogarth, who made $249,126.61, plus $4,602.01 in benefits. Other top earners on the list for the board included Bruce Richardson, associate director of education, $186,541.57, plus $13,187.68; Katherine Witherow, elementary school principal, $178,747.48, plus $253.63; Denese Belchetz, coordinating superintendent of education, $164,507.65; Robert Harper, coordinating superintendent of education, $164,507.65, plus $508.93; Ken Thurston, coordinating superintendent of education, $164,507.65, plus $508.93; Anita Corbett, elementary school teacher, $142,664.45, plus $249.31; Helen Fox, superintendent of education, $142,354..54, plus $439.62; John Havercroft, superintendent of education, $142,354.54, plus $439.62; Beate Planche, superintendent of education, $142,354.54, plus $439.62; and Lynda Shurratt, superintendent of curriculum and instructional services, $142,354.54, plus $439.62.

The York District Catholic School Board had 131 members of the "century club" in 2007. The top earner there was Susan Larosa, director of education and secretary to the board, who made $206,975.28, plus $5,985.22 in benefits. The other high money-makers included John Sabo, associate director and treasurer of the board, $176,719.19, plus $10,726.69; Patricia Preston, executive superintendent, $162,084.54, plus $9,219.03; Allan MacKey, superintendent of schools, $141,131.85, plus $469.78; Charles McCarthy, superintendent of schools, $141,131.85, plus $469.78; Bryson Eldridge, superintendent of plant, $140,322.45, plus $469.78; Mary Cosentino, superintendent of schools, $138,535.07, plus $462.98; Debra Cormier, superintendent of curriculum, $137,624.45, plus $469.78; Leonardra Wilson, superintendent of student services, $137,624.45, plus $469.78; and Lynda Couler, superintendent of human resources, $137,503.32, plus $458.70.