Monday March 19, 2012
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday March 19, 2012
Peggy Chapman makes sunshine salary list
Peggy Chapman’s salary is once again causing controversy after Mayor Bob Bratina confirmed his chief of staff was paid more than $100,000 last year.
Bratina revealed Friday that Chapman is on the soon-to-be-released 2011 “sunshine list” for public sector employees who made $100,000 or more — even though her salary last year was $90,000.
t’s the second time in several months Chapman’s pay has incited debate. In December, councillors considered slapping Bratina with a formal censure for raising Chapman’s salary by 33 per cent, to $120,000 from $90,000.
“I believe the public will be outraged by the continued drama related to the mayor’s office,” said Councillor Sam Merulla. “We must focus our energy on priorities that matter. Unfortunately, the preceding development and drama is the antithesis of our priorities.”
Rumours were swirling around City Hall this week that Chapman’s name appeared on the sunshine list, but initially neither Chapman nor Bratina could confirm how much she made last year.
Chapman said she hadn’t checked her T4 or done her taxes.
In an email sent to The Spectator Friday morning, Bratina said his top aide was paid $100,967 last year. He explained that most of the extra pay she received last year was an $8,000 payout for missed vacation time, while her raise, which took effect in November 2011, provided the extra $3,000 that bumped her onto the sunshine list. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)
An excerpt of a lengthy email from the Mayor, Bob Bratina, to Hamilton Spectator managers and made public in an Andrew Dreschel column:
“…unrelenting and in many cases completely false or misleading news coverage, editorial comments, and ignorant attacks on my character, and that of my chief of staff through immoral and unethical use of editorial cartoons.”
“I hope some day your wives and family experience the unhappiness you have caused my wife and family, destroying our enjoyment of this past Christmas with the unfounded attacks on my employee’s compensation…”