In addition to his high salary, the new director of Greater Victoria’s sewage treatment project will also get an extra year’s pay if he finishes his job.
The perk is outlined in a $290,000-a-year contract signed between Albert Sweetnam, an engineer and former Ontario Power Generation executive, and the Capital Regional District’s civilian sewage commission.
The bonus pay comes at the end of Sweetnam’s five-year contract. If he stays on the job, and completes the sewage project by 2018, he’ll get the extra $290,000.
“There is a completion payment of one year’s salary,” said Brenda Eaton, commission chairwoman. “This is common in project director contracts.”
The bonus serves as an incentive to stay with a project through its completion, Eaton said.
Sweetnam will also receive vacation, pension contributions and relocation expenses, but not special provisions such as a car and driver, or a tax-free housing allowance, she said.
Critics slammed the CRD commission for the perk. “I find it outlandish,” said Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Here is someone who has a five-year deal at $290,000 a pop. That’s $1.5 million when you factor in all the benefits. That’s more than enough money to manage the project.
“Certainly, you don’t need to give an extra year’s severance on top of it. It’s basically a 20 per cent bonus. I’m not sure what these directors were thinking. If that’s the best they could come up with, negotiate with someone else.”
Local politicians who sit on the CRD sewage committee did not negotiate Sweetnam’s contract or perks.
The civilian sewage commission signed the contract. The commission was a requirement of the provincial and federal government cost-sharing of the $783-million project, and is supposed to keep a tighter leash on project financing and deadlines than would be possible from elected officials.
Bateman said this same model is “screwing up Crown corporations and TransLink” in Metro Vancouver, where civilian boards work above the local politicians, and there’s a lack of responsibility for taxpayer money spent.
Sweetnam starts the job Sept. 9. He will be the highest-paid local government official on Vancouver Island; his annual salary is $100,000 greater than the retiring director he is replacing.
