EDC responds to city request for salary information

Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. has disclosed that it has at least one employee making more than $100,000 a year, with four others in the $86,000 to $130,000 salary range.

This afternoon's revelation that EDC Chief Executive Officer Tom Dodds is in the $100,000 club comes as no surprise.

He's a three-decade public service veteran, having previously served as executive director of the Community Development Corp. and regional manager for FedNor/Industry Canada.

Dodds tells SooToday that he will now write to all other EDC employees exceeding the $100,000 threshold, asking whether they are prepared to give consent for their names and income to be made public.

Dodds says he's willing to provide his own salary details in response to a request from City Council last night.

A written statement issued this afternoon by the EDC indicates that it's in "full support" of the intent of last night's City Council resolution, which asks for the names, positions and salaries of all EDC and Innovation Centre employees whose salaries and taxable benefits exceed $100,000 a year.

But Dodds says the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act appears to prohibit the EDC from complying with the city's request if affected staffers don't consent to disclosure of their private information.

Last week, EDC posted salary information on its website, showing that it has six positions in the $56,000-$86,000 range, four in the $49,000-$56,000 range and four in the $33,000-$49,000 range.

• Mandatory remittances - employment insurance (EI), Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), employer health tax (EHT) and workplace insurance (WSIB)

• Pension plan options - defined benefit plan (OMERS) or defined contribution plan (RRSP)

• Insurances - life insurance, long-term disability (LTD), accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness (CI)

• Healthcare and dental care

• Sick leave and vacation accrual

The EDC website indicates that salary ranges for all positions are established using evaluation point bands.  

"The SSMEDC has a systemic process for assessing the positions with the organization. A comprehensive analysis of each position's tasks, responsibilities, knowledge and skill requirements is used to assess the value of each position."

"Job evaluation provides a rational and consistent approach for determining the pay of employees within an organization.... In order to measure and evaluate staff performance, SSMEDC developed an employee performance accountability agreement."

"Employees who are successful in exceeding 'good' performance or higher may result in receiving additional financial or other compensation," the website says, adding "this is conditional upon available funds."

"I would encourage people to look at the website so they can get a flavour," Dodds told SooToday.

The following is the full text of today's EDC statement:

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SSMEDC responds to City Council disclosure request

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (May 17, 2016) – At last night’s City Council meeting, a motion was passed that requests the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation to release the names and salary amounts of its employees making more than $100,000.

The organization is in full support of the intent of the resolution and had previously posted the following information for all of its employees on its website at www.sault-canada.com:

• organizational structure
• position descriptions with salary levels for the corporation’s employees, and
• salary ranges for each level and the number of employees at that level

“In the interest of transparency, we have provided all of the corporation’s employee salary ranges, as allowed under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, without requiring an employee’s consent,” said Tom Dodds, chief executive officer of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation. “We are being as transparent as possible without violating employee privacy rights under the Act.”

The Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation obtained legal advice to swiftly address the resolution passed last night, while insuring it complies with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

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