Cops at the top of 2013 Saugus salaries

SAUGUS – Police officers were the top earners once again in Saugus in 2013.According to a list of the top 100 employee salaries provided by the town, the top nine salaries were for police officers. Lt. Thomas Coogan was the highest earner at $164,005, which included details and salary. Chief Domenic Dimella was the sixth-highest earner at $138,416.Though overtime costs were not represented on the list the town provided, Officer Anthony Gaieski made the most in details, which added $31,541 to his $95,811 salary.Overall, the top 100 was made up of 46 police officers, 36 school faculty, administration and staff, 15 from the fire department and two employees from the water and sewer department, Charles McLaughlin and Thomas Dinocco. Town Manager Scott Crabtree was the only Town Hall employee on the list, ranked with the 10th-highest salary at $128,862.Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem had the highest salary in the district, with $116,778 earned in 2013. The highest-paid teacher was Marie Bridges of the Ballard School, who earned $97,252.Absent from the list of top-paid employees is Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Michael Tempesta, who started mid-year in 2013. He is believed to be paid in the range of $150,000 annually.The lowest-paid town employees remain a mystery for now; town officials said they were unable to provide a complete list of employee salaries.Town Meeting, which decides on the municipal budget, begins May 5 at Town Hall.