By BOB BURGESS
WAKEFIELD — The bar just keeps rising in the world of municipal employee compensation.
In Wakefield, no one among the top 50 paid town workers in 2017 made less than $125,995. In 2016, no one in the top 50 made less than $120,000.
As much as things change, however, they remain the same: only one woman is among the highest paid employees in Wakefield. And she oversees the town’s public school system.
As is the case in any community, more police were among the town’s top paid public servants than any other group. Twenty two members of the Police Department made the top 50 list in the last calendar year, while 15 members of the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department earned their way onto it.
They were followed, in no particular order, by five firefighters, three school administrators, two Department of Public Works employees, Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio, Todd Bowden of the Information Technology Department and Building Inspector John Roberto.
The information in this report is supplied by Town Hall and is based on an employee’s W-2 earnings, which the Daily Item does not have access to.
Police Chief Richard Smith earned more than any other municipal employee in 2017, followed by Police Lt. Steven Skory, WMGLD Manager Peter Dion, Police Detective John Ryan, the WMGLD’s Daniel Flynn and Richard Fedele, Supt. of Schools Dr. Kim Smith, Police Officer Jonathan Burnham, Police Officer Shane Pelletier and the WMGLD’s Ralph Brown.
Most town employees received raises in 2017, effective Jan. 1 and July 1.
Police officers — with the exception of the police chief — benefit from working overtime and performing private details, which further boost their pay. John Ryan, for example, made $20,411 in private detail pay in 2017, while Shane Pelletier earned $28,423.
Chief Smith displaced Skory as the top town earner last year.
On the chart that accompanies this report, an employee’s gross pay includes all stipends she/he enjoys, any contractural remuneration, any overtime pay and any money made working private details.
The fact Wakefield is involved in the state’s lucrative Quinn Bill designed to reward police for furthering their law enforcement education helps members of the local department earn their way onto the top 50 paid town employees list every year.
Some younger members of the Police Department receive less from the Quinn Bill than older ones due to collective bargaining agreements.
The ones who qualify for the biggest Quinn Bill benefits get 25 percent of their base pay added to their compensation each pay week if they have a master’s degree; 20 percent if they have a bachelor’s degree and 10 percent extra if they have an associate’s degree.
Certain officers also get extra compensation for working night shifts, weekends and holidays.
All firefighters receive a small amount of money for working at night; some also work private details.
