The District of Squamish’s former manager of engineering received approximately $27,000 in severance pay when he and his former employer parted company.
Last month, the municipality announced the departure of Brian Barnett, the district’s third senior manager to wave goodbye to Squamish in 2012. At the time, district spokesperson Christie Smith said the municipality wouldn’t discuss circumstances surrounding Barnett’s departure as it fell under “personnel matters.”
Through a Freedom of Information request, The Chief has learned that “in accordance with Mr. Barnett’s Employment Agreement, he received a severance payment of $26,666.63, less statutory deductions.”
The severance represents 2 1/2 months of salary and benefits, less statutory deductions, Robin Arthurs, the district’s general manager of corporate services, wrote in an email to The Chief.
“The payments are based on length of service to the district,” she noted.
Barnett’s employment agreement states he received a salary of $103,050 per year.
Barnett’s exit followed the departure of Cameron Chalmers, who served as general manager of community services. Former Squamish chief administrator Kevin Ramsay left the district this past spring to take on the job of city manager in Port Moody.
Barnett had been the municipality’s manager of engineering since January 2010. Previous to his time in Squamish, Barnett worked with the Resort Municipality of Whistler for 13 years, where he held the position of the environment services general manager.
