Police Officers Top Stratford's Highest Wage Earners

Their gross income soared last year because it included two year's compensation for lost wages incurred during a suspension without pay that started June 2009, said Ronald Ing, director of human resources. 

"They had settlements as a result of a town action against them," Ing said. "State couldn't find anything and withdrew charges."

The charges of wrongdoing against McNeil and Soto that related to ex-Mayor James R. Miron's brother were dropped in early 2011.

Ing provided the numbers for town employees. He said the list includes only active employees. About 75 percent of the top 100 town employees are represented by the Stratford and departments, Ing said.

The list below includes both town and school employees, the latter of which hold 21 spots in the top 50 wage earners in 2011.

Police and fire claim the first seven positions, which is reflective of contractual obligations tied to the jobs, Ing said.

A list of the top 100 highest wage earners on the town side can be viewed as a PDF in the photo gallery, as well as a list of the top 30 school employees.

Share your thoughts on Stratford's highest paid employees in the comments section below.

Name Job Title 2011 Gross Income 1 Joseph McNeil Captain, Police Dept. $296,843 2 Orlando Soto Lieutenant, Police Dept. $293,954 3 Thomas Murray Asst. Chief, Fire Dept. $200,806 4 Michael Nealy Public Safety Dispatcher $180,047 5 Timothy Brennan Asst. Chief, Fire Dept. $165,876 6 David Salik Captain, Police Dept. $153,923 7 Mark Doyle Lieutenant, Police Dept. $151,169 8 Ellen Michaels Director of Pupil Personnel Services $142,518 9 Margaret Lasek Principal, $142,518 10 Dudley Orr Principal, $141,901 11 Edward Molloy Director of Technology $140,178 12 Michael Feeney Chief Operating Officer $138,000 13 Thaddeus Walewski Sergeant, Police Dept. $134,200 14 Elaine Watson Asst. Superintendent $134,000 15 John Lynch Principal, $132,339 16 John Dellapiano Principal, $132,339 17 Victor Velez Sergeant, Police Dept. $131,253 18 Lawrence Overbay Patrol Officer, Police Dept. $127,682 19 Charles Senft Asst. Principal, Stratford High $127,249 20 Joseph Crapanzano Coordinator, Alt. Services - ALPHA $127,249 21 Robert Burroughs Patrol Officer, Police Dept. $126,944 22 Thomas Clements Patrol Officer, Police Dept. $125,651 23 Marcia McNeil Patrol Officer, Police Dept. $124,348 24 Frederick Wilcoxson Sergeant, Police Dept. $123,726 25 Lance Edwards Asst. Chief, Fire Dept. $121,255 26 Lea Ann Bradford Principal, $118,765 27 Max Berkowitz Asst. Principal, Bunnell High $118,765 28 James Noga Principal, $118,765 29 Mary Ann Craig Principal, $118,765 30 William Pancak Asst. Principal, Stratford High $118,765 31 Nancy Dowling Asst. Principal, Bunnell High $118,765 32 Elizabeth McGoey Principal, $118,765 33 John Conway Asst. Chief, Fire Dept. $117,887 34 Leonard Kowalski Shift Operator VII 3rd Shift $117,131 35 Brian Lampart Lieutenant, Fire Dept. $116,236 36 Diana Dilorio Principal, $115,371 37 Michael Camporiale Coordinator, World Language/ESOL $114,764 38 Martha Press Coordinator, Curriculum-Secondary $114,764 39 Monika Edman Coordinator, Pupil Services $114,764 40 Diane Christiano Coordinator, Career/Tech Education $114,764 41 John Popik Captain, Police Dept. $114,694 42 Brian Oliver Patrol Officer, Police Dept. $114,659 43 Kevin Lantowsky Lieutenant, Fire Dept. $114,155 44 David Mullane Corporal, Police Dept. $113,136 45 Robert Spiegel Lieutenant, Fire Dept. $112,522 46 Gerald Pinto Lieutenant, Police Dept. $112,151 47 James Singletary Asst. Principal, Wooster $111,979 48 John A. Harkins Stratford Mayor $111,769 49 Anthony Basso Highway Maintenance Crew Leader $110,617 50 Curtis Eller Sergeant, Police Dept. $110,550