The 2021 sunshine list of public servants in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent who make $100,000 a year or more in salary has been released.
Topping the list is Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire at nearly $255,000.
He's followed by Police Chief Gary Conn with an annual salary last year of almost $238,000, Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby with earnings of almost $236,000, General Manager of Community Human Services and Chief Executive Officer of Public Health April Rietdyk who made just over $226,000, and General Manager of Infrastructure and Engineering Services Thomas Kelly at more than $213,000 in salary.
Fire Chief Chris Case made around $200,000.
Mayor Darrin Canniff made just $112,000.
In 2021, the number of employees at the municipality earning $100,000 or more increased to 302 compared to 296 in 2020.
Last year's list includes 131 members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service, 58 members of the Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services, 99 non-union employees, 12 nurses and one Health Inspector.
Public sector organizations such as hospitals, school boards, municipalities, colleges, universities and hydroelectric companies owned by the province are required to list the employees who earn $100,000 or more annually.
The Consumer Price Index has not been applied to the reporting process since its inception in 1996, which would have put the reporting level at $158,028 last year, not $100,000.
At that level, Chatham-Kent would have 20 names on the list.
“Openness and transparency are priorities to the Municipality and reporting out annually on public wages is one of the many ways we can accomplish this," said Cathy Hoffman, General Manager and Corporate Services/Chief Human Resources Officer. "It is also a time to express ongoing appreciation for the talent that makes up the CK employee team. In the last 24 months this has never been more evident as employees and leaders have navigated the demands and challenges of COVID-19 together.”
