Templeton's top earners for FY23: Which police officers doubled their salaries with OT?

For fiscal 2023, 13 Templeton town employees earned a six-figure paycheck. Among those top earners are police officers, linemen, and Templeton Municipal Light and Water Plant staff.

The FY23 payroll had 215 employees, and the town spent $6,183,928 on salaries. The highest earner is Derek Hall, a police sergeant with gross earnings of $166,3330. Hall had a base salary of $76,248 and was paid $90,082 in overtime and other work expenses for FY23. The Gardner News repeatedly asked for clarification about what was included in other expenses but did not receive a reply.

Only two of the top 13 highest-paid town employees earned a six-figure salary without working overtime, both of whom work in the Municipal Light and Water Plant. John Driscoll, the manager of the Templeton Municipal Light and Water Plant, is the second-highest earner in town with a base salary of $144,461. Thomas Berry, the electric superintendent of the municipal light and water plant, earned a base salary of $119,033. Berry was the 10th-highest earner in FY23.

Three police officers earn more in overtime than in base salary

Following Driscoll, the third highest-paid town employee is Eric Smith, a police detective corporal with gross earnings of $139,751. Smith's base salary was $66,406, and he earned $73,345 in overtime and other work expenses. In fourth place is police officer Nicholas Malnati, who had a base salary of $65,197 and earned $69,515 in overtime and other expenses. Malnati made a total of $134,713 in FY23.

The fifth highest-paid town employee is Joseph Parker, a lineman, with a base salary of $102,372, who earned $28,476 in overtime and other expenses. Parker's total gross pay was $130,849, which makes him the highest-paid lineman. Following Parker is the head lineman, Nicholas Houston, with a total gross salary of $129,262. Houston had a base salary of $104,158 and earned $25,105 in overtime and other work expenses during FY23.

Police Chief Michael Bennett earned a total of $125,196, which makes him the seventh top earner. Bennett has a base salary of $114,017 and earned $11,179 in overtime and other work expenses. Following Bennett is Shane Egan, a lineman, whose gross earnings were $124,037. Egan had a base salary of $99,634 and earned $24,402 in overtime and other expenses.

The ninth highest-paid town employee is Police Sgt. Steven Flis, with total earnings of $123,702. Flis had a base salary of $77,934 and earned $45,767 in overtime and other expenses.

Staff at Templeton and Phillipston schools are not listed in the town's FY23 payroll as they are employees of the Narragansett Regional School District.

Here is a list of the school district employees and their salaries.

More: Narragansett schools payroll totaled $14.6 million in fiscal 2023: who earned the most?

Here is a list of the town's top 30 earners in FY23. For a complete list of all employees, please see our related story.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Templeton MA top salaries in fiscal 2023 include police, lineman