Fire Chief, Police Deputy Among Top Salary Earners In Salem

SALEM, NH — The town's most recent two fire chiefs have topped the list of Salem's five highest-paid town employees for the past two years. Also making top salaries is Police Deputy Chief Robert Morin, who remains on paid administrative leave pending a criminal investigation. The top five earners for Salem are listed below, for calendar years 2019 and 2018. The lists reflect base annual salaries and do not include any benefits, incentive pay, vacation buyback, stipend pay, uniform allowance or overtime, Finance Director Nicole McGee stated.

Top Earners In 2019:

1. Fire Chief Lawrence Best, $140,578 per year — Best was appointed to the Salem Fire Department in December 2003. After climbing up the ranks, he was promoted to chief in August 2018. His father is a longtime firefighter who is retired.
2. Town Manager Christopher Dillon, $138,375 per year — Dillon became interim town manager in July 2017 after the departure of Leon Goodwin, who previously held that position. Selectmen hired Dillon as permanent town manager in September 2017.
3. Municipal Services Director Roy Sorenson, $132,416 per year — Hired to the position in 2015, Sorenson oversees the Municipal Services Department, which includes public works, engineering and utilities. He has previously held public works positions in Nashua, as well as in Bedford, Massachusetts, according to The Eagle-Tribune.
4. Police Deputy Chief Robert Morin, $128,104 per year — Morin is among three Salem police officers who are currently on paid administrative leave, according to Dillon. The other two officers on leave are Capt. Michael Wagner and Sgt. Michael Verrocchi. Their leave is pending an Attorney General's Office criminal investigation stemming from a town audit released in November. The audit highlighted some apparent issues with the department management. Last month, Morin told the New Hampshire Union Leader that he plans to retire in June.
5. Police Capt. Joel Dolan, $118,249 per year — Dolan, under the oversight of civilian administrator Brian Pattullo, has been helping to lead the Salem Police Department since the AG's Office investigation began.

Top Earners In 2018:

1. Fire Chief Paul Parisi, $146,846 per year — Parisi served the Salem Fire Department for nearly 30 years before moving on to a new position as New Hampshire fire marshal, to which he was appointed last summer.
2. Police Chief Paul Donovan, $141,675 per year — Having served in the Salem Police Department since 2001, Donovan retired by the end of December 2018. He had announced his resignation in November, shortly before the audit was made public. According to Dillon, the day-to-day operations of the Salem Police Department continue to be fulfilled by Pattullo, the civilian administrator who was hired in November.
3. Dillon, $135,000 per year
4. Sorenson, $130,459 per year
5. Morin, $124,555 per year