Of three senior staff that have recently left city hall, only one received settlement pay, according to documents obtained by the Abbotsford News through Freedom of Information requests.
Jay Teichroeb, general manager of economic development and planning, and Pat Soanes, general manager of finance, both left the City of Abbotsford in June. At that time, city manager George Murray declined to comment on whether severance would be paid, or whether they left the city voluntarily.
Documents released by the city are missing figures which were withheld under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, but showed that the total monies owed to Soanes are $101,187.29. That number includes $12,636.73 from areas such as vacation pay and remaining wages, with $6,747.30 listed under wages in lieu of notice. A separate document shows that $88,550.56 was awarded to Soanes as a settlement agreement. Following Soanes’ departure, her position was eliminated from city hall.
The documents show that the total monies owed to Teichroeb is $18,796.79 from areas such as vacation pay and remaining wages. According to the documents, Teichroeb did not receive any settlement agreement or wages in lieu of notice.
Gordon Ferguson, general manager of bylaw enforcement, left the city in July. The documents show that the total monies owed to Ferguson is $28,102.54. Of that amount, $15,954.40 is listed under wages in lieu of notice.
City manager George Murray has declined to comment on the payments to the three departing managers, stating that he is unable to comment on personnel or legal matters.
In 2012, Teichroeb was the third highest paid staff member at city hall, making $205,669 that year. Soanes received $185,809 last year, and Ferguson was paid $106,119.
In June, Murray said that nine management and one union positions were being cut from city hall, as part of a “new organizational structure,” which Murray said will save the city more than $1.25 million annually.
Murray took the position of city manager in February after the former city manager, Frank Pizzuto, resigned in December. Pizzuto received a $321,000 payout.