Almost two dozen Plymouth public employees earned at least $190,000 last year

Twenty-three Plymouth public employees — most of them police officers — earned at least $190,000 last year, according to town payroll records.

Town Manager Derek Brindisi topped the list, taking in $282,632 in total compensation.

Police Chief Dana Flynn was the second highest paid official, earning $263,401, followed by School Superintendent Christopher Campbell, who collected $246,429, and police lieutenant Robert Ferguson, who made $244,074.

Of the 20 highest earners, fifteen worked for the police department.

In a town where the per capita income is less than $57,000 according to US Census, more than 440 of the town’s 2,448 employees earned at least $100,000 in calendar year 2024, the payroll data show.  

The town paid more than $148 million in wages during the year — about half of the total budget.

Among all town employees, police officers are uniquely able to boost their base pay by working overtime, private details and collecting extras like educational incentives. Flynn, for example, earned more than $54,000 in education benefits on top of his $181,000 base pay. The chief holds two master’s degrees.

Several ranking police officers received more than $40,000 in education benefits on top of their regular pay, according to town records.

Starting this year police officers will also receive an extra “professional standards stipend” for wearing body cameras and operating future, unspecified, devices, according to police union contracts.

The yearly stipend is $2,600 for patrol officers and $2,900 for superior officers.  

Rounding out the top 20 earners in town were fire chief Neil Foley, who made $223,196 and Finance Director Lynne Barrett, who earned $209,475.

This year – fiscal year 2025, which ends on June 30 – pay for most employees will increase through cost of living raises and step increases mandated by union contracts.

The payroll records are not easy to decipher — there are three categories: base pay, overtime pay, and “other pay,” which can include education, longevity, and lump sum holiday pay.

Most of the top earners collected thousands of dollars in “other pay.”

Brindisi is among the highest paid town managers in Massachusetts, according to news articles and public records.

His latest contract, signed in August 2024, provides for a series of raises that would pay him $337,703 by March 2029 (assuming he’s still in the position).

Top municipal executives in other Massachusetts cities and towns have hefty pay packages, too.

For example, Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista’s base pay of $293,868 is scheduled to increase to $305,223 in July, and $314,080 a year after that, according to published reports.

With a population of 207,000, Worcester is about three times the size of Plymouth, though Plymouth is the state’s largest community in square miles.

Andover officials just approved a new contract for Town Manager Andrew Flanagan which will pay him $262,000 starting July 1. Andover, while much smaller than Plymouth – with a population of about 36,000 – is also more affluent.

By comparison, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu earned $207,000 last year.

Officials noted that Brindisi does not get health insurance through the town, saving taxpayers $22,000 a year.

Select Board members also said Brindisi deserves the high pay, based on his leadership and contributions to the town. He was hired by – and reports to – the board.

“Plymouth is a very complex community that is very challenging to manage,” said Select Board vice chair Kevin Canty, adding that the town has to offer competitive pay to attract the most talented candidates.  

Brindisi, said Canty, “has the skills and qualifications Plymouth needs, and his pay is reflective of what he brings to the table.”

Select Board Chair Richard Quintal called Brindisi’s contract “obviously generous,” but said he oversees the state’s largest community by area and his pay is justified.

Select Board member Charlie Bletzer said Brindisi is being paid “very fairly and not exorbitantly.”

A headhunter hired by the town to recruit town manager candidates “told us the high end and low end,” Bletzer said “We’re very confident what he’s getting paid is not the top end and not the bottom end.

“We felt we needed to hire the best candidate,” he added.

Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and a former Town Manager himself, said town manager jobs are “becoming increasingly competitive.”  

“There are fewer people stepping up and applying to do the work,” he said. “The result has been in the past five to seven years we have seen compensation for town managers consistently increase.”

On top of regular and overtime pay, top officials also collect an array of lucrative benefits, according to the payroll data.

Police and firefighters appear to be paid twice for official holidays. They receive a lump sum payment for all town holidays — in addition to their regular paychecks for the week in which a holiday falls, according to union contracts.  

Until this year, Brindisi also collected the lump sum holiday benefit. In 2024, he received a check for more than $12,000.

Flynn received a lump sum holiday payment of $11,625 and Fire Chief Foley received $9,941. Police captains each received more than $9,000 in extra holiday pay.

And like the education benefits paid to police, other town employees are also eligible for extra pay based on their level of education.

Brindisi, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, for example, received a $3,605 education payout in 2024.

Foley was awarded a “career incentive” of $14,467 and “fire education” pay of $3,500.

The fire chief earned the extra pay for serving as the town’s forest warden and the overseer of the town’s emergency management division. He also completed a chief fire officer management training program through the Massachusetts Fire Academy and the University of Massachusetts, according to town communications coordinator Casey Kennedy.

Regular firefighters can get a pay boost by seeking advanced certifications in subjects like fire investigations and hazmat operations.

They can also increase their pay by pursuing non-fire-related certifications in field like plumbing and construction.

Foley said a lot of what firefighters do involves buildings under construction — or on fire.

“Having licensed professionals in the trades provides additional safety and expertise,” he said. “We encourage members to get licensed and provide them a stipend in return when they do.”

Precinct 15 chair Wrestling Brewster, an active town resident, said it’s hard to understand the host of benefits the town gives most employees — and to explain them to the residents he represents.

“I fully think we’re getting our money’s worth with Derek [Brindisi],” he said. “But all that convoluted extra pay for this and that, really?”

“As a Town Meeting member, it’s my job to go to these people (constituents) and explain why their taxes are higher: ‘This is what you’re getting for your dollar.’ But all [officials] say is they’ve cut as much as they can,” Brewster said.

“I have to keep going back and saying, ‘Your taxes are going to be higher.’ The people who are on fixed income and can’t afford to live in Plymouth are tired of hearing that.”

For a searchable list of the town’s 2024 payroll, go here.

Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.

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