Published in the February 19, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — With the retirement of Dr. Kimberly Smith and new people beginning other top educational positions in the middle of the calendar year, no woman’s name appears on the list of the 50 top paid town employees for 2018.
Everyone on the list of top municipal earners from last year is a man, ranging from Police Lt. Steven Skory’s gross take of $216,054 to Fire Lt. John Mercurio’s $134,330.
For calendar year 2017, Kim Smith — the only top female earner — was seventh on the list.
In 2018 no one on the top 50 paid municipal employee list made less than $134,329, up dramatically from calendar year 2017, when the 50th highest pay was about $126,000.
As is the case in any community in our area, the Police Department had more members among the town’s highest paid public servants than any other employee group.Twenty police made the top 50 list in 2018, which is two less than in 2017. There were 14 members of the Municipal Gas and Light Department, one less than the year before, followed by, in no particular order, nine firefighters, two DPW administrators, Supt. of School Doug Lyons, Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio, Information Technology Director Todd Bowden, Building Inspector John Roberto and Town Accountant Kevin Gill.
The information in this report is supplied by Town Hall and is based on an employees’ W-2 earnings. The Daily Item does not have access to employees’ W-2 forms.
Skory displaced his boss, Police Chief Rick Smith, as the top department earner in 2018, flip-flopping first and second place from the year before. They were also the top two earners overall last year. Others in the top 10 were Police Detective John Ryan, Municipal Gas and Light Department General Manager Peter Dion, Police Sgt. Jonathan Burnham, Maio, Police Lt. Scott Reboulet, Police Sgt. Sean Beede, Police Detective Christopher Grace and Police Sgt. Geoffrey Eriksen.
Most police officers, with the exception of the chief, greatly supplement their salary and money made working overtime by taking on private details. Detective John Ryan, for example, made $48,715 in detail pay. Patrolman Matthew Powers $38,031 doing details, and Patrolman Matthew Warren made $28,075 in detail work.
On the chart that accompanies this report, an employee’s gross income in 2018 consists of several components, like base salary, overtime, any small stipends he enjoys, any contractural renumeration and any money made working details.
The fact that 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 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 accords. 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 and some also work private details.
The town charges a 10 percent administrative fee to the private companies who need details. Town departments needed them aren’t charged.
