Two civil servants who lost their jobs about halfway through 2012 still collected a combined total of $648,708 in pay last year.
Last July, in two separate incidents, Kevin Mercer and Michael Wood unexpectedly lost their respective jobs at the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and Centre Wellington Township.
Officials at both organizations were tight-lipped about the departures, as well as any financial compensation received by the employees, but the province’s annual “Sunshine List,” has revealed that both received substantial payouts.
According to the Ministry of Finance’s annual disclosure list, which includes the salaries of public sector employees making more than $100,000 a year before taxes, the highest paid civil servant in the Wellington County area was Mercer.
The former CEO of the CCAC, who in July abruptly left his position, was paid a total of $493,785 last year.
Officials offered no explanation at the tine of the sudden departure, though it came shortly after a provincially-appointed supervisor stepped in to address numerous concerns about unstable finances and services at the CCAC, which provides home care.
A scathing report issued last summer highlighted “a failure of leadership at the highest levels within the CCAC,” which led to “a degree of organizational dysfunction.”
Based on his 2011 salary of $243,206 and the time he worked for the CCAC last year, the $493,785 figure included in the 2012 Sunshine List seems to indicate Mercer was provided with a payout of at least 18 months’ salary.
Wood, the former CAO of Centre Wellington who suddenly left his position in July, was paid a total of $154,923 in 2012. Township officials, and in particular Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj, repeatedly refused to supply the Advertiser with even the most basic of details surrounding Wood’s departure and a possible payout.
Based on his 2011 salary ($138,579) and his period of employment last year, it appears Wood received a payout package worth at least $70,000 or approximately six months’ salary.
