TOP 10 PORTLAND OVERTIME EARNERS (2021)
|
EmployeeName
|
JobTitle
|
Department
|
Regular Pay
|
Overtime Pay
|
Other Pay
|
Term Pay
|
Total
|
|
BELANGER, JON D
|
FIREFIGHTER EMT-B
|
Fire Department
|
$61,790
|
$150,703
|
$7,971
|
$ -
|
$220,463
|
|
THOMPSON, JEFFREY R
|
FIREFIGHTER EMT-B
|
Fire Department
|
$64,980
|
$80,038
|
$10,753
|
$ -
|
$155,770
|
|
CENATE JR, JOHN S
|
AIR FIRE CAPTAIN EMT-P
|
Fire Department
|
$72,491
|
$76,628
|
$6,114
|
$ -
|
$155,233
|
|
THOMPSON, JONATHAN J
|
FIREFIGHTER EMT-B
|
Fire Department
|
$62,852
|
$74,659
|
$10,158
|
$ -
|
$147,669
|
|
DIFILLIPO JR, VINCENT A
|
FIREFIGHTER EMT-B
|
Fire Department
|
$59,311
|
$67,972
|
$ 6,534
|
$ -
|
$ 133,817
|
|
CYR, BRUCE D
|
FIRE CAPTAIN EMT-I
|
Fire Department
|
$72,848
|
$65,885
|
$6,087
|
$ -
|
$144,820
|
|
ROYER, ADAM D
|
AIR FIRE LT EMT-I
|
Fire Department
|
$ 66,166
|
$ 62,382
|
$ 5,585
|
$ -
|
$134,132
|
|
HUTTON, MICHELLE R
|
CNA - NURSING
|
Barron Center
|
$51,147
|
$60,303
|
$9,220
|
$ -
|
$120,670
|
|
DAVYDOVA, OLGA A
|
LPN - NURSING DIRECT CARE
|
Barron Center
|
$56,086
|
$59,084
|
$12,217
|
$ -
|
$127,386
|
|
TILLOTSON, CHRISTOPHER P
|
FIRE CAPTAIN EMT-B
|
Fire Department
|
$71,007
|
$56,652
|
$4,561
|
$ -
|
$132,221
|
OpenTheBooks.com analyzed the 2021 payroll for the City of Portland, provided through a Maine Public Records Act request.
Last week, our auditors at OpenTheBooks.com identified the Portland $70,000 Club – 406 city employees who out-earned Maine Governor Janet Mills at a threshold salary of $70,000.
We found that a big driver of city compensation was overtime.
The most highly compensated city employee was Jon Belanger, a firefighter emergency medical technician (EMT). Belanger earned $220,463 – including $150,702 in overtime. In fact, three of the top ten most highly compensated city employees last year were EMT credentialed.
There were 80 fire employees earning $10,000-$150,703 in overtime alone – allowing employees to double or triple their salaries. We reached out to Fire Chief Keith Gautreau for comment. For example, how does a fire employee earn up to $150,000 a year in overtime? What does that process look like? How many hours of overtime were worked?
The Police Department had 71 employees earning $10,000-$52,295 in overtime alone. We reached out to Police Chief Heath Gorham for comment. The top earner was a fourth generation Portland office and a lieutenant on the force, Robert Doherty, Jr. who made total compensation of $155,989 last year.
The Barron Center had 27 employees who earned $10,000-$60,303 in overtime alone last year. The major of those overtime earners were 15 CNAs and eight LPNs and RNs. An editorial published last June in the Press Herald blew the whistle on allegations of staff shortages and worker burnout.
We found certified nurse assistants (CNAs) making up to $120,670 – including $60,000 in overtime earnings. Top-paid licensed practical nurses (LPNs) made up to $127,386 – including $59,084 in overtime earnings.
We reached out to Kristen Dow, the city’s director of Health and Human Services, for comment and feedback.
In total, across all agencies, the city paid out almost $7.8 million in overtime last year to 1190 employees. Therefore, the average employee – who earned overtime – made an extra $6,500.
***
Portland’s city manager and the mayor both earned six-figure paychecks. City manager Jon Jennings earned $192,784 and left the position in November 2021. Jennings replacement was Danielle West, who made $155,460 as the city attorney. In the city manager position, West will make $181,000.
City Mayor Kate Snyder earned $102,356 in 2021. By contrast, the eight councilors each made approximately $6,898 in wages.
Note: We again requested comment from the city manager and mayor and didn’t receive an on-the-record response by our deadline.
Learn more at OpenTheBooks.com.