Top Lynn salaries shift over to police

LYNN – Ten years has seen top-scale salaries for local municipal employees shift from educators dominating the highest-paying jobs to police officers topping the earnings list.In 1999, only former Police Chief John Hollow and Capt. Bruce Hogan earned more than $100,000, according to city salary lists. In 2008, 90 police officers earned more than $100,000 and 39 school workers earned six-figure salaries.Ten years ago, top local educators dominated the salary list with Superintendent James Mazareas earning $137,677 compared to former Superintendent Nicholas Kostan who retired with a $173,000 salary.Former Mayor Patrick J. McManus’ salary hovered just below the $100,000 mark in 1999 when it jumped from $90,000 to $99,000. A subsequent raise propelled it above the $100,000 mark. By contrast, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. earned $147,583 in 2008 including a $7,000 pay hike associated with contractual agreements.Even with city spending cuts forcing employee layoffs, negotiated raises contributed to city workers’ pay increases in 2008.Retroactive pay increases ranging from 5 percent to 8 percent boosted municipal employees’ salaries in 2000.Another factor in rising salaries a decade ago was $325,000 in educational stipends handed out to three dozen city workers with college degrees. The stipends ranged from 10 percent to 25 percent of the workers’ salary depending on the type of degree they held.