Phillipston spent $1.3 million on town employee salaries in FY23: who earned the most?

Only three Phillipston town employees earned above $100,000 during the fiscal 2023 year.

The town spent $1,308,206 on employee salaries, and 76 employees are on the town's payroll. Only three of the top 20 highest-earners for FY23 in Phillipston are female employees.

Phillipston schools are part of the Narragansett Regional School District, so there are no school employees in the town's data.

Phillipston Police Chief Kevin Dodge is the top earner with $106,200 in FY23. Next is Melanie Jackson, the administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen, who earned $105,683 and is the town's highest-earning female employee. However, Jackson isn't just the administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen; she is also the town treasurer, Human Resources director, clerk of the Finance Committee, and clerk of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Richard Tenney, the town's highway superintendent, is the third-highest earner and the last employee to have earned above $100,000. Tenney earned $100,218 for FY23. In fourth place is Police Detective Sgt. Sean Sawicki, who earned $95,863. Next is John Seamon Jr, the Phillipston fire captain, who earned $86,490.

Police Sgt. William Chapman is the fifth top earner, earning $75,238 in FY23. Fire Lt. William Clayton earned $74,634, placing him as the sixth top earner. Next is Scott Boutwell, highway foreman, who earned $68,190 this past fiscal year.

Town Clerk Karin Foley is the second highest-paid female employee and the eighth top earner. She earned $62,037 in FY23. Next is David Manty, a highway worker, who earned $60,068. Sally Kastberg is the third highest-paid female employee and the 10th top earner. Kastberg holds four different job titles for the town of Phillipston. She is the town's tax collector, administrative assistant to the Police Department, and administrative assistant to the Cemetery Department.

David Aukstikalnis is the 11th-highest earner and the highest paid patrol officer, earning $50,401. Following Aukstikalnis is Jeffrey Parker, the fire chief, who earned $39,109.

For a complete list of all town employees' salaries, please see our related story.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Phillipston MA top salary earners include police chief, fire captain