Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Ocean City Government Salaries

Below are the top 100 earners. Now they want a union. Here is a link to the story.

Information on the total amount spent on employee benefits in 2011 was not available, but will appear in a later issue.

CITY MANAGER .........................173,404.80
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ................152,669.64
FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR ................146,860.93
CITY ENGINEER ........................146,860.43
CHIEF OF POLICE ......................144,676.89
RECREATION/PARKS DIRECTOR ............140,321.75
PLANNING & COMM DEV DIRECTOR .........140,321.46
EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR ..........140,150.34
FIRE MARSHAL .........................135,445.22
POLICE CAPTAIN........................132,617.77
POLICE CAPTAIN........................126,743.38
POLICE CAPTAIN........................123,803.60
POLICE CAPTAIN........................123,328.39
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIR ...........121,828.01
GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR ............118,892.80
PW SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER.............118,541.49
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR .................116,773.06
FIRE/EMS DEPUTY CHIEF ................116,561.04
TRANS SUPER...........................114,746.27
PW DEPUTY DIRECTOR ...................114,400.00
RISK/CLAIMS MANAGER...................113,846.15
POLICE OFFICER .......................113,654.21
POLICE SERGEANT.......................112,902.18
WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT.............112,553.76
POLICE LIEUTENANT.....................111,060.18
CONVENTION CENTER DIRECTOR ...........110,441.00
POLICE LIEUTENANT.....................110,198.26
POLICE SERGEANT ......................110,147.23
HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR ..............110,000.73
GOLF SUPERINTENDENT ..................109,193.03
ELECTRONIC SERVICES MANAGER ..........108,953.07
POLICE LIEUTENANT.....................108,715.45
FF/EMS 2ND LIEUTENANT ................108,455.06
POLICE CORPORAL ......................107,896.52
POLICE LIEUTENANT ....................106,798.83
POLICE LIEUTENANT ....................106,174.58
POLICE LIEUTENANT ....................106,101.83
FIRE MARSHAL/DEPUTY CHIEF ............106,079.84
PW CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR .............106,004.49
BUDGET MANAGER .......................105,817.00
POLICE SERGEANT.......................105,732.65
RECREATION/PARKS ASST DIRECTOR .......104,114.08
POLICE SERGEANT ......................103,951.94
ASSISTANT FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR ......103,947.78
FF/EMS 2ND LIEUTENANT ................103,433.64
POLICE SERGEANT ......................102,788.29
CONVENTION OPERATIONS MANAGER ........102,432.47
POLICE SERGEANT ......................102,018.75
POLICE LIEUTENANT ....................101,634.12
POLICE LIEUTENANT.....................100,815.17
CONVENTION SALES/MARKETING DIR .......100,139.11
PW MAINTENANCE MANAGER ................99,171.67
POLICE LIEUTENANT .....................98,584.78
FIRE/EMS ASSISTANT CHIEF ..............98,468.62
FIRE/EMS LIEUTENANT ...................98,331.83
SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR ...............98,066.39
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV.....................97,917.85
POLICE SERGEANT .......................97,392.00
POLICE OFFICER ........................97,305.75
SERGEANT ..............................97,201.11
FF/EMS 2ND LIEUTENANT .................97,141.47
PW CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ...............97,086.10
POLICE CORPORAL .......................96,578.88
CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL ...............96,363.51
POLICE SERGEANT .......................95,965.90
FIRE/EMS LIEUTENANT ...................95,884.27
POLICE OFFICER FIRST CLASS ............95,668.59
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV ....................95,494.39
POLICE SERGEANT .......................94,559.79
PARKS SUPERINTENDENT ..................94,112.25
POLICE OFFICER FIRST CLASS ............93,961.25
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV ....................93,443.18
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV ....................92,126.79
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV.....................91,928.81
CITY CLERK ............................91,743.69
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV ....................91,729.54
FF/EMS 2ND LIEUTENANT..................91,605.78
POLICE OFFICER FIRST CLASS.............91,518.83
POLICE CORPORAL........................91,497.41
COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION MGR ...........91,437.76
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV.....................90,818.71
ENGINEERING MANAGER ...................90,641.28
GOLF PROFESSIONAL/MGR .................90,572.99
FIRE/EMS CAPTAIN.......................90,504.00
FIRE/EMS CAPTAIN.......................90,503.90
FIRE/EMS CAPTAIN.......................90,503.85
POLICE CORPORAL........................90,248.81
POLICE CORPORAL........................89,220.94
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV.....................89,103.53
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV.....................89,016.33
POLICE CORPORAL........................88,997.91
POLICE SERGEANT........................88,981.66
POLICE SERGEANT........................88,804.80
POLICE OFFICER FIRST CLASS.............88,680.56
FIREFIGHTER/EMT IV.....................88,444.03

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

Police and fire already are unionized.

Anonymous said...

do you know what % is pay, o.t., additional benefits, health ins., etc....

Anonymous said...

No wonder the gov. doesn't have any money. These salaries are ridiculous!

Anonymous said...

damn over 9 mil in salaries right there. a cleak making almost 100K a year? seriously?

Anonymous said...

These people are overpaid and overworked, but they are treated like dirt by some of their "superiors" who think they are superior than everyone else.
The people who desperately need a union are the hotel workers. They work in very hostile work environments and are verbally abused by their MONSTER "superiors" and treated like prisoners and slaves.
Hopefully the Senate Bill 999, which is the Healthy Workplace Bill will pass this year in MD.

mjrl said...

Its not any of the top 100 that want a union 51 of that 100 are already in a union which is the Police,Fire and EMS and the others on that list are supervisors that can't join a union because they have no bargaining rights its the people way down the salary scale of 50,000 or less that want a union. All the facts were in last weeks Ocean City Today. I'am a town employee and believe me its not any of the top 100

Daddio said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

This is OBSCENE.

Anonymous said...

You should compare that to Salisbury Govt. Joe and see the startling difference. My job is half the rate of the same position in OC.

Anonymous said...

What is a Golf Professional/MGR and why do they make $90,573?

Anonymous said...

As a previous police department employee, I have to say this is absolutely absurd... there is no one in that agency that deserves to make that much money

Anonymous said...

Again, the unanswered question is how much overtime is calculated into those numbers. No way a senior police officer in Ocean City makes $91k annually without tons of overtime. The questions that need to be asked are: Why do certain individuals make so much overtime? Is overtime not fairly distributed? If the bulk of police overtime is from off-duty court appearances, could the police department do a better job of coordinating officers schedules with the courts? While not perfect, they do it in other jurisdiction, especially when it comes to District Court and routine traffic. Are off-duty officers required to call into the state's attorney's office the day before court for criminal and serious traffic cases to confirm his/her presence is still needed? It may even pay to have a liaison officer coordinate this. Some police contracts had language in them for minimum pay when an officer appears in court during his off-duty time. In many cases the minimum is three-hours at time and one-half, even if the officer only steps into the courthouse and is told he is not needed.

Anonymous said...

Never mind the fact that the Town will hire a foreign VISA worker when possible over an American so they can avoid paying State & Federal unemployment taxes. I seriously doubt any union would change this.

JoeAlbero said...

anonymous 9:13, STOP!

The Post says "SALARIES" NOT INCOME.

Anonymous said...

This is exactly the reason I have been posting to stay out of Ocean City.

They have raised and raised and raised taxes, fees, permits, tickets, until they have exhausted all of the populaces resources.

This did not happen over night folks - this has happened gradually.

Again - I repeat - STAY OUT OF OCEAN CITY - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Anonymous said...

Shoot - their K-9 dogs make more than 90% of Wicomico's residents income. Come on - someone needs to wake-up down there.

Anonymous said...

Wow, really we all know the only reason the Eastern Shore is around is becuase of Ocean City. If you take Ocean City out of the Shore... We would be Virginia.... LOL

How many calls for service does any of these Public servents really run? I mean all OCPD did years ago was drunks and sound complaints. OCFD, we EMS ran drunks accidents and parades.

Fire, well they were cross man with EMS, I dont get it... Really

I should have gone to OC for a job years ago.

Anonymous said...

Joe, I really don't understand the point you attempted to make in your 9:18 post. Are you suggesting that a police officer's base salary in Ocean City is $113,654.21? With the possible exception of the department heads, who are exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standard Act and do not get paid overtime, all those "salaries" of the others represent salary plus overtime.

JoeAlbero said...

anonymous 9:38, again, these are salaries. Yes, I AM suggesting a police officer is paid $113,654.21 a year, if that's what was published. This could be an officer with 20 years on the job. Not ALL officers get that kind of pay but there are some on the force that get paid very well.

JoeAlbero said...

I'll add, many of those upper positions are salary jobs, NOT by the hour. There is NO over time pay.

Anonymous said...

@9:24-I believe it's a matter of 'who you know' and who you brown-nose and if you are 1 of the "Good Ol' Boys" in OC in order to get in the decent paying jobs.
I heard that Harrison runs most of the town. I heard that this guy ran some kid off the road years ago and killed the poor innocent kid. Is this true?

Anonymous said...

Joe, I'll bet you a steak dinner at Ruth's Chris that there's absolutely no way an Ocean City police officer's base pay is $113,654.21. I'll go as far to say that there's no sergeant's base pay at that rate, no matter how much time they have on the job. Absolutely zero possibility. And don't worry, once you check and see I'm right, just post it. I'll find you to collect.

Anonymous said...

Like I said before, these people are way overpaid and way overworked. Yeah, these workers are busy from May-September but they are twiddling their thumbs most of the time during the other 7 months.
Now they are running out of money and they want to raise taxes on property owners who are rarely in OC and we are pissed! I highly recommend to people-DO NOT BUY PROPERTY IN OCEAN CITY! They will tax the hell out of you!!!

Anonymous said...

I take it that because you posted my bet it's on? While I didn't want to spend too much time looking for the contract that went into effect in 2011, here's the one that just expired. At the end of the contract is the pay schedule for everyone in the police department. Salaries indicated are base pay without overtime. As you'll see, the most a 16 year and over police officer with longevity steps could make during the last contract was $69k. I doubt seriously Ocean City doubled their salaries for police personnel in the new contract. The highest base salary for the most senior police sergeant was $88,383. A far cry from the $113k salary you are saying a senior police officer made before any overtime.

Again, those numbers on your post, with the exception of department heads, include base pay plus overtime, not base alone.

Anonymous said...

The salaries posted do not include health insurance, life insurance disability etc. In 2010 there were 38 of the top 100 that had take home vehicles many of whom live outside of Ocean City. The cost for this was $135,298. Cost for cell phone was $15,296, cost for uniforms was $243,500. The average salary for a general manager in private sector such as hotel/restaurant in Ocean City is $63,000. These Government workers can retire in their 50's while we have to work into our 70's to pay for their retirement. Here is a link showing full salary benefit information. http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2009-02-13/news/039.html

By the way in my opinion the best job is RECREATION/PARKS DIRECTOR ............140,321.75 Unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

Why do they need take home vehicles. They should all take an immediate 10 pay cut. I remember years ago when my son played little league occasionally we had to go to snow hill for games. I would see the public works truck there at fields.

Anonymous said...

Joe, this point is worth a 2nd post. Look at the chart indicating the increase over just a 10 year period, 100%, ie: it DOUBLED! Total payroll in 2000, 21 million, 2010 43 million. Why, the ousted city manager and a few raode the "gravy train", for thier own good. NO BUSINESS would have survived, the TOOC has one heck of a bill to pay now. Compare to any Salisbury Police officer or firefighter, that has to work thier butt off year round, not just 3 months. This is beyond disgusting!

Anonymous said...

Check the record, this all started the year the FOP won collective barganing. It was never about anything but MONEY! Now the generial employees want a union, well duh......... now wonder. Unions have been the downfall of many great companies, they now have government in thier sights. Most salaries jumped by double digits every year, totally under the radar because of the "roaring" 2000's when the economy grew, now the OC taxpayers have a giant in the room, and dont know which way to turn.

Anonymous said...

Make them take pay cuts to help pay for the roads instead of placing meters throughout town and raising the fees for parking meters. If they don't like it let them go find private sector jobs in the area that pay like that. Good Luck! What's next a toll booths at the route 50 and 90 bridges.

Anonymous said...

9:51 If Harrison ran the town then the town coffers would be overflowing with money not hanging by a thread as they are now.
There is hope though with the current council majority as they are called. Finally fiscally responsible representatives who because of the mess the others made are made out to be the bad guys because they are trying to fix it.
One decision/mistake they made was to cave into a few rousers and decide to go with a company to do a "nationwide search" for the city manager when there are already capable competent people employed by the town now who could do the job. Big waste of money.

Anonymous said...

I recall recently reading an article about the Ocean City convention center director leaving to take the same post in Tampa Bay. The article said the pay was just a little more but considering Tampa Bay's convention center is 4 times the size of oc's, the population is 350,000 people and over a million counting surrounding areas, Tampa has two sports franchises and is hosting the upcoming republican national convention. The jist of the article is that Ocean city pay was very generous.

Anonymous said...

FINANCIAL OBSCENITY AT ITS BEST!!

These salaries and obvious benefits have to be totally unbelievable to the avearage person in this neck of the woods.

How much longer can those pulling the cart continue? From these numbers the cart is surely getting full with each passing day, and with fewer numbers to pull, as some point the wheels are going to come off.

Anonymous said...

Funny how you mention this in light of a 'union', yet most of these positions are exempt positions, who are not part of a union.

This is how a real city takes care of it's dedicated employees. They pay for the services they receive.

Wicomico is the opposite, where employees don't stay, because the population is unwilling to pay for the services it receives.

I pay taxes here in OC, I am satisfied with the services I receive. I hope that in the very near future, you all in wicomico understand this.

Anonymous said...

I was told that they can retire with half their pay. So if someone is making $120,000 when they retire they get $60,000 for the rest of their life. Say they live to be 80 years old they make 1.2 million in retirement.

Anonymous said...

I love Ocean City but this makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

And the problem lies 12:15, when someone someone who has worked for 30 yrs and started when they were 22 yrs old and lives to be 80-they have received more in retirement than they ever contributed into it.
These retirement ages and years of employment need to readdressed.

Anonymous said...

Like the one poster said, unions didn't cause this. Only people on that salary chart covered by a union are police officers below the rank of lieutenant and firefighters below supervisory ranks. Police officers and firefighters can't legally strike, and as far I'm aware Ocean City doesn't have binding arbitration. This means those covered by a union are still at the mercy of the city to bargain in good faith. So don't blame this on the F.O.P.

Anonymous said...

@ 12:04-It sounds like you are 1 of the city employees on this list.

As far as your statement- "This is how a real city takes care of it's dedicated employees. They pay for the services they receive." what a bunch of BS! You know damn well that OC employees are overpaid and overworked. I challenge you to find another American city that pays its employees these ridiculously astronomical wages.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 1:05 about finding another city that pays these astronomical wages. I add to that a city of 7000 year round residents. I am surprised that there isn't a bigger effort to allow non resident property owners to vote in the elections. They pay the vast majority of the taxes yet use less services.

Anonymous said...

Look in a nut shell, the majority of the cops are white, the majority of the transportation and other non union workers are black. The white cops get the high pay and best benefits thru a CBA but the blacks try and get rejected...it just happned! The only fair answer is to remove the CBA for all or give to it all...why is anything else acceptable!

Anonymous said...

These salaries were a result of the FOP and their union! How you say?, because when they bargained for higher wages, the Town had to also raise the salary of everyone, including management. And of course who was the CEO and City manager, well........ Dennis Dare, that saw his salary raise to $174,000 PLUS another $10,000, PLUS benefits! This is a fact. Dennis brought in the Hendricks study, that HE fed with the documentation, and it's been all downhill since. He wouldn't let them use local salaries, or even those at a State level. Argue all you want, Joe posted a link several months back where you can search the pay of a Maryland State Tropper WITH OVERTIME, a OC rental cop is on average 30% more, for a seasonal resort. Check, then come back and disagree... it's there, and it's fact! From 2005 until 2010 the towns income, due to the big influx of real estate tax, grew 20 million a year, that's a total of 100 million, and it all went to the employees. Where's the money now for roads, infrastructure, the boardwalk etc.? Look at some of the salaries, a IT person that doesn't have a clue, $121k, for a "purchasing agent", $120k, for a "budget manager", $120k for a "parks director" $140k for a "zoning administrator.....it goes on and on, Yep, defend that

Anonymous said...

These salaries were a result of the FOP and their union! How you say?, because when they bargained for higher wages, the Town had to also raise the salary of management. And of course who was the CEO and City manager, well........ Dennis Dare, that saw his salary raise to $174,000 PLUS another $10,000, PLUS benefits! This is a fact. Then, Dennis brought in the Hendricks study, that HE fed them with the documentation, and it's been all downhill since. He wouldn't let them use local salaries, or even those at a State level. Argue all you want, Joe posted a link several months back where you can search the pay of a Maryland State Tropper WITH OVERTIME, a OC rental cop is on average 30% more, for a seasonal resort. Check, then come back and disagree... it's there, and it's fact! From 2005 until 2010 the towns income, due to the big influx of real estate tax, grew 20 million a year, that's a total of 100 million, and it all went to the employees. Where's the money now for roads, infrastructure, the boardwalk etc.? Look at some of the salaries, a IT person that doesn't have a clue, $121k, for a "purchasing agent", $120k, for a "budget manager", $120k for a "parks director" $140k for a "zoning administrator.....it goes on and on, Yep, defend that

Anonymous said...

I looked out of those than made
75K or more, 64 are cops. 43% of all town employess making over 75K are police officers. The gang that recently went and asked for the right to have a collective bargaining agreement, they are the lowest paid. See for yourself! So yesterday I am in OC, on Coastal HWY. Im in twn for 2 hrs, how many cops do I see...1, and its a Berlin Cop driving through town not OC. So why are they being paid like this, they work 5 months a year...ridiculous. I know I am not the only OC resident that want this CBA removed and wages brought back into line. The act like they arent being paid fairly, claim no raises, yeah right...look at the proof!!

Anonymous said...

How many FOP guys are posting on here, hiding and defending these crazy numbers. Sorry guys your time is up...bunch of bums, they deserve what they get and its bye bye CBA!!!

Anonymous said...

There is a literal army of seasonal employees who are dedicated, professional, and courteous. They are not overpaid and they are not complaining or whining about not belonging to a union. These people include maintenance of the rest rooms, parking meter enforcement, bus drivers, and groundskeepers. Generally speaking, it is these people you most likely see wearing a smile.

Anonymous said...

Last summer I had a co worker ask me if I needed grass cutting or stuff like that done because her husband was trying to make some extra money. I asked her if he still had his seasonal job with the town which was a lower paying maybe 8 or 9 an hour job. she said yes but they cut his pay down as the town is trying to save some money. How much can they actually save by cutting his pay 1 dollar an hour. I say cut the pay of the over paid on the list instead of sticking it to the little guy.

Anonymous said...

Us taxpayers in OC are overtaxed with no recourse.At one time just 1 large condo building paid as much taxes as the whole town of Berlin.

Anonymous said...

Joe,

please keep this out there. I don't think there are as many people in Ocean City compared to Salisbury that know about this site.

Anonymous said...

Ironically these police salaries are in the neighborhood of the Beverly Hills Police Department and may be even higher.

Beverly Hills is widely known as having the highest paid police in the world. Obviously Ocean City, MD is right up there with them.

Anonymous said...

No police officer makes $90,000 WITH overtime. I don't know about the superiors, but the officers do not. This is ludicrous.

Anonymous said...

This makes me sick. I made $17,000last year in Ocean City and drove from Salisbury in my own car, on my own gas, no cell phone, no pension, no vacation, and no health insurance. They should be hung at the City Hall.

Anonymous said...

Got to agree with 1:05.As an OC property owner,the taxes and fees have made condos in OC not worth owning and renting anymore.Even if you own one outright you only break even.

Anonymous said...

Mark my words, these colossal salary amounts are leading to Ocean City's, as well as Worcester County’s…DOOM! Many OC property owners are PISSED about theses salarie and as 9:42 stated, condos in OC are not worth owning or renting anymore. Many of them want to sell their properties, but they can’t. You know why? Because potential buyers see these salaries, which = higher property taxes and they look elsewhere.

It all comes down to the IGNORANCE and GREED of OC officials. Either or both Mayor Meehan or ex-Mayor Mathias should be held accountable for OC’s demise, which affects all of Worcester County too. Declining property assessments in Worcester County resulted in a $22.6 million revenue decrease from FY 2009 to FY 2012. You know who, among many people, is going to suffer from these gigantic UNAFFORDABLE salaries? The education of OUR CHILDREN and the county's in Worcester County from the county’s budget cuts at our schools. Also, families can no longer survive in the county due to this CATASTROPHE.

Ocean City and Worcester County is gradually but SURELY heading downhill due to Ocean City’s and Worcester County's IGNORANT and GREEDY officials, so they need to stop living their lavish lifestyles because DOOM is inevitable…MARK MY WORDS!!!

Anonymous said...

You know who else is going to suffer the consequences due to the STUPIDITY of our county's officials? Hard-working YEAR-ROUND (not just 4 months out of the year) tourists from all of the increases the county's officials is going to impose on them due to their shortfall in revenue.
These people should be ASHAMED of themselves!

Anonymous said...

Ever try to call to get info from department heads or anyone else at city hall. I have on numerous occasions. You never get them when you call. I left 3 detailed messages for someone (i won't mention name) and never got a call back. This was in the winter. Not only are they grossly overpaid they are arrogant.

Anonymous said...

go to yahoo home page now. look at what's trending now.