| 01/25/2006 | | Milford’s top cop gets top pay | | Chris Rhatigan , Register Staff |
MILFORD — The city Tuesday released the list of its highest paid employees for 2005 Tuesday, with nine police and nine Fire Department posts getting spots in the top 25. The highest-paid city employee is Police Chief Keith Mello. Mello has been with the department for 23 years and was promoted to chief in 2004. He did not return calls for comment Tuesday.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. was not on the list. He is, however, scheduled to make $89,000 in 2006, which could crack the lower end of the highest paid.
The list does not include school employees.
At No. 2 is Health Director Dr. Dennis McBride. He was hired in 2002 and is the former North Carolina health director.
Fire Chief Louis LaVecchia said pay for his department, when compared to other similar-size cities in the state, is in the middle of the pack.
"Obviously, firefighters had to work a lot of hours to receive that kind of compensation," he said. "The performance of our staff is outstanding."
Police Union President Jeffrey Matchett said the reason for nine police officers in the upper echelons is "guys are working, 60, 70, 80 hours a week to make up for vacancies (in the department.)"
"These figures are nowhere near their base salaries," he said. Matchett added that officers can choose to work instead of taking vacation time to boost their pay, which may also be a factor.
Total compensation for police, also when compared to comparably sized municipalities in the state is average, according to Matchett.
Milford’s top 25 municipal earners:
1. Police Chief Keith Mello, $117,348.
2. Health Director Dr. Dennis McBride, $115,361.
3. Police Capt. Steven Fournier, $108,806.
4. Finance Director Judy Doneiko, $105,028.
5. City Attorney Marilyn Lipton, $103,401.
6. Police Lt. Joseph Pietrafesa, $102,164.
7. Fire Chief Louis LaVecchia, $102,158.
8. Police Inspector William Shultz, $99,592.
9. Building Inspector Thomas Raucci, $97,533.
10. Police Capt. Gerald Butler, $95,183.
11. Fire Superintendent of Apparatus Lawrence Lester, $93,752.
12. Former Library Director Salvatore Stingo, $92,987.
13. Police Sgt. John Alexopoulos, $92,749.
14. Sanitation Foreman Daniel Hooks, $92,488.
15. Fire Assistant Chief James Wilkinson, $90,173.
16. Fire Assistant Chief Lee Cooke, $90,073.
17. Firefighter Gary Guilmette, $90,038.
18. Public Works Director Bruce Kolwicz, $89,971.
19. Police Lt. Edward Shea, $89,771.
20. Police Sgt. Douglas Youd, $89,384.
21. Fire Lt. Christopher Zak, $89,299.
22. Fire Battalion Chief William Hyatt, $88,187.
23. Police Patrolman Dennis Broderick, $88,156.
24. Fire Capt. William Healey, $87,532.
25. Fire Capt. Richard Mohr, $86,869.
|
|