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Christel Yardley / Stuff
Hamilton City Council Chief Executive Richard Briggs has been praised by Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate for his “strong leadership during a really uncertain time.”
Hamilton City Council Executive Director Richard Briggs will not receive another salary increase this year.
Briggs made headlines in February with news that the board had approved a $ 15,840 pre-tax increase to his income, an increase that brought his total annual compensation package, including KiwiSaver, to $ 469,040, just a shadow behind. of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s $ 471,000 income.
The council’s executive director’s review committee’s decision to maintain the status quo on Briggs’s salary is in line with that of other council staff who earn more than $ 70,000.
Mayor Paula Southgate said Briggs had continued to perform at a high level despite a particularly difficult year.
“We appreciate Richard’s continued commitment to the council and his strong leadership during a truly uncertain time for our organization and our city.
“The last 12 months have seen the highest highs and the lowest lows. We’ve had our highest spending on infrastructure and 2019 saw the most homes approved for construction in decades.
“However, we all know that there are some challenges and uncertainties ahead around the impacts of Covid-19.”
Southgate said the board appreciated and recognized Richard’s own wishes not to receive a salary increase.
“Richard made it very clear to us that a salary increase should not be on the table for your consideration and [chief executive review] the committee agreed that it should be treated in accordance with the council’s policy of not increasing salaries this year for staff making $ 70,000 or more. “
In April, Briggs accepted a voluntary 20 percent cut in his earnings for six months, a U-turn after he initially announced that he was protecting part of his $ 15,840 pay raise ($ 2,436 over a two-month period) to a staff hardship fund. .
Briggs has been the executive director of the Hamilton City Council since 2014. His contract expires in October 2021 at which time the position will be announced, as required by law.
That amount represented .5 percent of his income for the year, or a 7 percent cut in six months.
