Tri-City taxpayers wanting a peek into the private finances of public officials can check out their newly released disclosures.
But a word of warning: The documents that came out this week under the provincial Financial Disclosure Act offer scant details of council members' assets, liabilities, property and sources of income.
According to the papers, which are available for viewing at city hall — and, as of today (Thursday), online for the Port Moody incumbents — several elected representatives are in the consulting field.
Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay is the owner and president of TTS Automation Inc., a technology consulting firm, and is an employee of Tero Consulting, a computer company based in Port Coquitlam.
Besides his municipal, Metro Vancouver, TransLink and Municipal Finance Authority gigs, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart also draws a salary from Stewart Communications, which he owns.
And Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, chair of Metro Vancouver's board of directors, had assets in Livable Region Consulting Inc., a company that handled business, political and parks and recreation matters; however, he dissolved it last year, Moore told The Tri-City News.
Consulting is also prominent on councillors' forms.
Port Moody Coun. Zoe Royer is the president and CEO of Smart Dentist Solutions, which according to its website is a practice management consulting firm for dental professionals, and she is the president and CEO of Sweetheart Bakery, an online subscription service that caters to children and "inspires" them to learn and bake, its website reads.
Coquitlam Coun. Dennis Marsden is a partner in True North Business Consultation Ltd., a home-based firm he shares with principal Kevin O'Rourke that, according to its website, provides "services ranging from strategic planning to operational execution."
Several councillors contract out their services, too.
Port Coquitlam Coun. Darrell Penner is a contractor for Meridian Arms Pub (he is a musician) while Port Moody Coun. Robert Vagramov is a contractor for Macinhome In. and Inspiration In Action.
And, although they are not required to disclose properties they own outside of their jurisdiction, many councillors did:
• Coquitlam Coun. Teri Towner has a strata property in Burnaby;
• Coquitlam Coun. Mae Reid, a sales associate with Royal LePage Sterling Realty, owns strata land in Campbell River;
• Moore has a small waterfront parcel with a cottage in Pitt Meadows;
• and Penner has recreational land in Maple Ridge.
Royer, who works out of 2419 Clarke St. — the same address as Silk Art Gallery, which her husband owns — also has two numbered companies, of which one holds two properties in Peachland. As well, she has land at 1912 Clarke St. and in Maple Ridge, her disclosure states.
Besides elected officials, senior city managers are required to reveal to city council what they own and owe, to avoid conflict of interest; however, those documents are not available for public scrutiny.
