School Superintendent City's Top Wage Earner For Second Year

For the second year in a row, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael J. Frechette is the city of Middletown's top wage earner, according to figures released Feb. 23 by the payroll department.

Half of the top 10 salaries were taken home this year by officers. Last year, six of the top 10 were police personnel *(see note below).

Frechette earned $154,990.61, slightly less than what he made the previous year, $155,735.26, and just above that of the second-highest paid employee, Acting Police Capt. Michael S. Timbro, $154,551.38.

Acting City Attorney Timothy Lynch is third, at $146,990.26; and Acting Police Chief William N. McKenna fourth at $143,878.51.

Eight of the city's top 15 wage earners are Middletown Police officers, compared to seven last year. Earlier this month, the Common Council voted unanimously to approve the police union contract through June 30, 2013.

Associate Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Barbara Senges is the fifth highest wage earner this year, with $142,362.30; last year she took in $139,057.49.

In comparison, Dr. Mark Benigni is in year two of a three-year contract in the $160,000 range. Middletown Mayor Dan Drew earns $78,332,80, the same as Sebastian N. Giuliano did upon leaving office last November.

In May of 2010, Frechette received the prestigious Outstanding Superintendent Award from the Neag School of Education Alumni Society of the University of Connecticut. He earned a Ph.D. in 1987 from UConn's Neag School.

The city is actively seeking a city attorney to replace Deputy City Attorney Lynch, who has been acting city attorney for three years. The posted salary for city attorney is $85,800 to $126,984.

Middletown High School Principal Robert C. Fontaine, who this year made $133,573.25, announced he will retire this summer after 14 years at Middletown High. Assistant Principal Colleen Weiner will replace him.

* Editor's Note: According to Payroll Administrator Linda Salafia, police personnel salaries above include private duty work and overtime. Middletown Patch will be running a follow-up story shortly that breaks out police department base salaries. Check back for updates.

Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook
Have something to say? Blog on Middletown Patch here.