WOONSOCKET — School administrators topped the salary list of employees in town government in 2006. On the municipal side, administrators and police officers headed the list.

Supt. of Schools Maureen Macera earned the highest salary at $167,012, according to a survey of the town’s 2006 municipal and school payrolls, part of a statewide review of public employee pay for calendar year 2006.

Macera, who was serving as the deputy superintendent, became superintendent of schools in October 2005. When she became the superintendent, the job of the deputy superintendent was eliminated to save money and Macera agreed to do both jobs at a higher pay. The salary reflects time paid for both duties. It also reflects a one-time retroactive payout for assuming both roles, according to Miriam Goodman, the administration and finance director.

School Committee President Marc Dubois said that eliminating the deputy superintendent position helped save the city money. “People may squawk at the salary. With the elimination of the deputy superintendent and Dr. Macera doing both jobs we are saving $60,000 to $80,000. We gave her a little more than the average superintendent’s pay and she also took on duties and responsibilities of superintendent and deputy,” Dubois said.

Macera said that The Journal’s review of the calendar year instead of the fiscal year the school district goes by would skew the true salaries of employees. “When you report a calendar year it merges two years. It doesn’t match what your contract is. So $167,000 reported as my salary is greater than what I was contracted for the next fiscal year, which was a full fiscal year and is misleading,” she said.

Anthony L. D’Acchioli, the former superintendent of schools who left in October 2005, was the second top school wage earner at $126,620. Goodman refused to give details of what D’Acchioli’s salary encompassed for that year.

Dubois said the amount included 10 years of unused sick time and that D’Acchioli also had a lot of unused vacation time.

The third highest paid school employee for 2006 was George Nasuti, then the principal of Woonsocket High School. Nasuti, who has been in the school system since 1983, earned $96,283. Goodman was the fourth highest moneymaker at $92,274.

Among the municipal employees, city administrators interspersed with police officers as the top salary earners.

Michael Annarummo, serving as the public works director, had the top salary at $105,808. His salary included $86,130 for his work as the DPW director and another $18,880 in his role as the water contracts administrator. The remaining difference included longevity pay, according to Owen Bebeau who serves as the personnel director and the emergency management agency director.

Michael L.A. Houle, the police chief at the time of the survey, earned the third highest salary among municipal employees at $94,087. His base salary was $73,853 and he received reimbursement for holiday pay, longevity pay, non-sick time reimbursement, and uniform clothing allowance.

The late Robert J. Bentley, who served as the highway superintendent at the time, came in at number five at $89,096. His base pay was $54,955. He received $30,000 in overtime for coordinating snow removal, Strom said.

Mayor Susan D. Menard came in at number six with a salary of $87,777 which included longevity pay, Strom said.

Detective Sgt. Todd A. Fernandes was the seventh top salary earner at $86,463. His base pay was $48,141, but he also received longevity pay, sick reimbursement, shift differential, uniform clothing allowance and police details, according to Strom.

Fernandes, who has been on the force for 20 years, said the majority of the extra money he earned came from working details. He stood in the road directing traffic. He worked barroom detail. He worked in a housing project alone at night. “These are jobs the average person would not want to do but these are opportunities that allow an officer to make extra money,” he said.

Fernandes said he is not embarrassed about his salary. “I’m married. I have two small children. My wife doesn’t work. Those hours I worked were extra and beyond my regular duties. It’s my time off. It’s time off I missed spending with my family. I missed soccer practice, I missed soccer games. I really work two full-time jobs to provide them with the things they need. I am not embarrassed to show that I work hard to provide for my family.”

Compiled by Paul Edward Parker

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

Source: City of Woonsocket

Compiled by Paul Edward Parker

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

Source: Woonsocket School Dept.

tpina@projo.com