Educators Dominate Westport's 2011 Top Wage Earner List

The title of Westport’s top wage earner goes to Superintendent of Schools Elliot Landon, who earns roughly $80,000 more than the next highest-paid town employee, assistant superintendent for business Nancy Harris.

Eight of the top 10 wage earners of 2011 are school employees. Of 2011’s 50 highest paid town employees, 35 were school employees, ten were  four were , and one was a town hall employee ().

Gross salaries for police officers include overtime and pay for outside services, for which the town is reimbursed. Gross salaries for fire department personnel also include overtime. Outside services, which are marked in parentheses, are paid by private contractors and individuals and is not and expense to the taxpayer.

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The top 50 are:

1. Elliott Landon, superintendent of schools - $285,077.04; $279,487 in 2010
2. Nancy Harris, assistant superintendent for business - $204,330.96
3. Cynthia Gilchrest, director of pupil services and elementary school education -$164,823.45
4. Howard Simpson, police field training officer - $163,633
5. Anthony Falbo, police officer - $158,708 ($65,498)
6. Melissa Paolini, principal,  - $156,863.54
7. John Dodig, principal,  - $155,599.05
8. Susie Da Silva, principal, - $153,678.46
9. Lisabeth Comm, director of secondary education, research and professional development - $153,549.28
10. Natalie Carrignan, director of instructional technology - $152,678.46
11. Michael Jones, principal, - $152,678.46
12. John Bayers, principal, - $150,938.51
13. Anthony Prezioso, police officer - $146,904 ($9,751)
14. Janna Bell, principal,  - $144,246.44
15. Kris Szabo, principal, Coleytown Middle School - $143,740.59
16. James Farnen, assistant principal, Staples High School - $143,067.57
17. Michael Gudzik, police officer - $143,052 ($36,939)
18. Denise Emmerthal, assistant principal, - $143,017.57
19. Anthony Formato, assistant principal, Bedford Middle School - $143,017.57
20. Richard Franzis, assistant principal, Staples High School - $143,017.57
21. Patrick Micinilio, assistant principal, Staples High School - $143,017.57
22. Karyn Morgan, assistant principal, Staples High School - $143,017.57
23. Michael Rizzo, assistant director of pupil services - $143,017.57
24. Megan Tiley, assistant principal, Bedford Middle School - $143,017.57
25. Lauren Pitocco, vice principal, Coleytown Middle School - $141,729
26. John Kondub, town finance Director - $139,128
27. David Gusitsch, vice principal, Coleytown Middle School - $137,609.40
28. Marc Heinmiller, police field training officer - $134,332 ($7,745)
29. Martin Lisevick, athletic director, Staples High School - $134,253.57
30. Barbara Beaman, assistant principal, Saugatuck Elementary School - $134,208.30
31. Beth Heroux, assistant principal, Greens Farms Elementary School - $134,208.30
32. Anne Nesbitt, assistant principal, Kings Highway Elementary School - $134,208.30
33. John Pitoniak, police lieutenant - $134,107 ($16,256)
34. Lynda Codeghini, pre-school coordinator - $134,026.97
35. James D'Amico, chairman, Social Studies Department - $133,350
36. Frank Corbo, mathematics coordinator - $133,304.25
37. Lorraine DiNapoli, coordinator of special education, Staples High School - $133,304.25
38. Elaine Schwartz, director of guidance, Staples High School - $133,304.25
39. David Winer, music supervisor, K-12, - $133,304.25
40. George Taylor, police detective - $133,277 ($493)
41. Alfred Scheetz, chairman, Science Department, Staples High School - $133,029.13
42. Kevin Smith, police field training officer - $132,159 ($2,817)
43. Edward Zygmant, fire marshal - $131,481
44. Dale Call, police chief - $131,481
45. Barbara Pitcher, director of Adult and Continuing Education - $131,157.21
46. Andrew Kingsbury, fire chief - $130,742
47. Linda Oshetski-Johnson, assistant principal, Kings Highway Elementary School - $130,586.57
48. Brett Kirby, fire lieutenant - $130,565, ($291)
49. John Cabral, police officer - $130,306 ($34,312)
50. Matthew Cohen, fire lieutenant - $130,256 ($228)