By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board unanimously voted to extend Police Chief Nick Secatore’s contract during a recent meeting.
Town Administrator Rob Dolan said Secatore will be receiving a three-year contract extension. Similar to other department heads and municipal union members, Dolan said Secatore will be receiving a 3 percent raise each year of the three-year pact.
“This contract also includes an educational incentive item that is not on the base but is very similar to the Quinn Bill that all officers get,” said Dolan. “It reflects Nick’s master’s degree.”
According to Secatore’s contract, the police chief will be receiving a $185,764 salary “in the first year of the term of this agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2024.”
“(Secatore) shall receive the same number of sick days, personal days and bereavement days, the same amount of longevity pay and all other benefits as are provided for in the town’s Personnel Bylaw,” states Secatore’s contract. “In each succeeding year of the term of this agreement, starting on July 1, 2025, the chief shall receive a 3 percent salary increase and $7,500 education incentive per year. All payments shall be subject to applicable withholdings.”
The contract also states that Secatore “shall receive five weeks of paid vacation per calendar year, the scheduling of each such vacation being subject to the reasonable approval of the town administrator.”
“Not more than four weeks of accrued and unused vacation time may be carried over from one calendar year to the next,” the contract states.
Sectatore’s contract extension is commenced retroactively from July 1, 2024 and will run through June 30, 2027.
“However, the term of this agreement may be extended as provided by its terms,” states Secatore’s contract. “Unless either party provides written notice to the other of its or his intention to renegotiate and/or not to renew the term of this agreement no less than six months prior to the end of its initial or any extended term, this agreement shall automatically be extended on the then applicable terms and conditions for an additional one-year period. In the event the town does not renew the term of this agreement, or in the event the chief resigns following a formal suggestion by the town that he resign before the expiration of the then applicable term of this agreement, the town agrees to pay the chief a lump sum severance payment equal to the balance of any term of hereof, but in no event less than three months’ salary and benefits.”
If Secatore decides to resign voluntarily before the contract expires, the contract states that, “the chief shall give the town 30 days written notice in advance.”
“Provided such notice is given, the chief will be entitled to receive pay for any accrued but unused vacation and other leave in accordance with the terms of the town’s Personnel Bylaw,” Secatore’s contract states. “In the absence of such notice, the chief shall not be entitled to receive payment for any accrued but unused vacation or other leave.”
Select Board Chair Phil Crawford thanked Dolan and Finance Director/Town Accountant Dave Castellarin for negotiating Secatore’s new contract with the police chief.
“You guys did a great job on this,” said Crawford. “Nick is a prime asset for the town. I want to make him happy.”
The Select Board unanimously voted to approve Secatore’s contract extension.
Secatore thanked the Select Board, Dolan and Castellarin for extending his contract in an email sent to the Villager.
“I am very appreciative of the town extending my contract and am proud to be a member of the Police Department,” stated Secatore.
The Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Secatore as police chief in late November 2021, and he succeeded retired Police Chief David Breen. The Select Board previously appointed Secatore as acting police chief in February 2021.
Secatore graduated from Lynnfield High School in 1997. Before joining the Lynnfield Police Department in 2007, he worked as a financial analyst for Fidelity Investments. Secatore earned a Mathematics degree from Merrimack College. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1997-2005. He was promoted to police sergeant in 2014 and was promoted to captain in 2020.
Additionally, Secatore has a long history of volunteering in town in addition to his work with the Lynnfield Police Department. He served as the Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team’s assistant coach from 2012-2019, and coached Lynnfield Youth Wrestling from 2000 to 2012. He served as the town’s veterans’ services officer from 2009 to 2014, and is a former member of the Veterans Memorial Committee.