Peabody light co. workers check in

PEABODY – Bill Waters, manager of the Peabody Municipal Light Plant, took home the title for highest paid city employee yet again, with a $6,788 advantage over Superintendent Milt Burnett. Waters earned a gross income of $163,834 in 2008, up from $150,741 in 2007. Burnett took home $157,076.Click Here for the complete list – PeabodyOther PMLP employees worked their way up the earnings scale, including Assistant Manager Russell Dunn and Supervising Electric Engineer Glenn Trueira, who earned $140,157 and $127,063, respectively. Seven other plant employees dusted the top 50 list, each earning salaries no less than $95,000.Once again, employees of the Peabody Police Department dominated the salary list with a whopping 28 individuals making an appearance. Police Chief Robert Champagne led the pack with a gross income of $132,328, which included a base salary of $92,422 and roughly $39,905 from outside earnings.Detective Eric Ricci followed close behind with $128,491, approximately $79,000 of which was earned through overtime and detail work.There were only two fire department employees who made the cut. Fire Chief Steven Pasdon placed 32nd with $100,700 in earnings. Firefighter Richard Nelson surpassed Pasdon by approximately $20,000, landing him the number 10 spot.Seven school employees, excluding Burnett, appeared on the list. Assistant Superintendent Joe Mastrocola came in at number 26 with $104,365 and high school principal Ed Sapienza was right on his tail with $104,261. Principals of the Higgins Middle School, Welch School and West School also made the list, as well as Special Education Director Patricia Bullard at $101,335 and Business Manager Mike Musto at $96,453.Mayor Michael Bonfanti, rose to number 39, despite refusing a pay increase for the fifth year in a row. He took home $98,885.Overall, the city dished out about $67.3 million in regular salaries and $1.7 million in overtime.