By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The number of town employees who earned six-figure salaries increased last year.
According to town documents supplied by Town Treasurer/Tax Collector Leslie Davidson and based on employees’ W-2 forms, 91 town employees earned six-figure salaries in 2021. There were 78 employees who earned six-figure salaries in 2020.
Police Patrolman Mark Bettencourt topped the list with $249,351.22, which included $93,270.67 in base pay/stipends, $118,363.33 in detail pay and $37,717.22 in overtime. Salaries for police officers include base pay, overtime, details, holiday and longevity pay, clothing allowances and funds associated with the Quinn Bill. The Quinn Bill is a police career incentive program enacted in 1970 by the State Legislature that encourages police officers in participating municipalities to earn degrees in law enforcement and criminal justice. The educational incentives result in salary increases.
The data revealed that 37 out of the 91 employees who earned six-figure salaries were women, which surpassed the 29 women who earned six-figure salaries in 2020. There were 35 women who work for the School Department who earned six-figure salaries, with Superintendent Kristen Vogel being the highest paid woman in town. She was fourth on the list with a $193,629.80 salary.
Town Accountant/Assistant Finance Director Julie McCarthy was 27th on the list and the second highest paid woman with a $144,374.63 salary. Former Library Director Jennifer Inglis, who resigned last fall, was 61st on the list with $106,896.53.
Police Patrolman Patrick Curran was the second highest paid town employee with $229,574.22 after he received $87,121.35 in base pay/stipends, $91,352.33 in detail pay and $51,100.64 in overtime. Patrolman Scott Fitzemeyer was third on the list with $194,252.15, which included $87,486.51 in base pay/stipends, $74,072.56 in overtime and $32,693.08 in detail pay.
Town Administrator Rob Dolan was the fifth highest paid town employee with $189,539.30. Police Sgt. Al Scotina was sixth on the list with $179,489.64, which included $112,030.34 in base pay/stipends, $49,422.81 in overtime and $18,036.49 in detail pay.
Police Sgt. Sean Donovan was the seventh highest paid town employee with $179,406.49 after he received $110,306.60 in base pay/stipends, $46,653.53, in detail pay and $22,446.36 in overtime. Firefighter/Paramedic Nicholas Holmes was eighth on the list with $173,104, which included $77,537.59 in base pay/stipends and $95,566.41 in overtime.
Police Chief Nick Secatore was the ninth highest paid town employee with $172,657.80. Police Patrolman Stephen Conley was 10th on the list with $171,324.06 after he received $82,524.69 in base pay/stipends, $48,386.28 in detail pay and $40,413.09 in overtime.
There were 21 members of the Police Department who earned six-figure salaries. Patrolman Bryan Meterazzo was the 11th highest paid town employee with $167,161.76, which included $82,974.19 in base pay/stipends, $49,523.51 in overtime and $34,664.06 in detail pay.
Police Sgt. Louis Trapasso was 12th on the list with $166,547.33 after he received $108,650.73 in base pay/stipends, $55,680.21 in detail pay and $2,216.39 in detail pay. Patrolman/Detective Jonathan Duzz was the 13th highest paid town employee with $162,809.14, which included $88,797.45 in base pay/stipends, $40,199.97 in detail pay and $33,811.72 in overtime.
In addition to Vogel, there were 55 School Department employees who received six-figure salaries last year. Lynnfield High School Principal Bob Cleary was the 15th highest paid school employee with $159,992.59. Finance Director Tom Geary was 16th on the list with $159,153.66.
Lynnfield Middle School Principal Stephen Ralston was the 25th highest paid town employee with $145,420.15. Teaching and Learning Director Kevin Cyr was 30th on the list with $138,111.56. Student Services Director Roberta Keane was the 33rd highest paid town employee with $136,576.63. Educational Technology Director Stephanie Hoban was 35th on the list with $122,771.97.
Huckleberry Hill School Principal Melissa Wyland was the 36th highest paid town employee with $120,906.46. LHS Special Education Team Chair Gerard Coughlin was 37th on the list with $120,524.75. High school English teacher/varsity volleyball head coach Brent Ashley was the 40th highest paid town employee with $117,049.89.
High school history teacher/varsity football head coach/varsity boys’ lacrosse head coach Patrick Lamusta was 42nd on the list with $116,249.48. High school history teacher Elizabeth LaMonica was the 43rd highest paid town employee with $113,896.95. LMS Special Education Team Chair Lydia Rundell-Gjerde was 44th on the list with $113,720.04. High School Assistant Principal Brian Bates was the 46th highest paid town employee with $112,116.82.
In addition to Holmes, there were nine members of the Fire Department who earned six-figure salaries last year. Fire Capt. James Alexander was 14th on the list with $160,830.26, which included $96,530.83 in base pay/stipends and $64,299.43 in overtime.
Firefighter/Paramedic Anthony Metrano was the 17th highest paid town employee with $156,870.73 after he received $75,620.40 in base pay/stipends, $79,242.60 in overtime and $2,007.73 in detail pay. Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis was 20th on the list with $153,882.11.
Deputy Fire Chief James Wallace was the 21st highest paid town employee with $151,878.45, which included $150,623.55 in base pay/stipends and $1,254.90 in detail pay. Fire Cpt. Kevin Mutti was 22nd on the list with $151,095.24 after he received $95,390.19 in base pay/stipends and $55,705.05 in overtime.
There were two DPW employees who earned six-figure salaries last year. DPW Director John Tomasz was the 29th highest paid town employee with $142,285.21. DPW Assistant Facilities Director Steven deBettencourt was 69th on the list with $103,603.91.
Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin was the 89th highest paid town employee with $100,282.95.