Hamden finance official earned $308K, half via OT

HAMDEN — A union employee in the town’s Finance Department earned about $308,000 in fiscal year 2023, topping the list of the town’s highest-paid officials during that span, payroll records show.

Rick Galarza, Hamden’s deputy finance director, made roughly $156,000 in overtime in 2022-23, largely as a result of understaffing in the department, officials said.

Besides Galarza, the list of Hamden’s top 20 wage earners in fiscal year 2023 included one school administrator, seven firefighters and 11 police officers, most of whom supplemented their base salary with overtime and private duty pay, according to the records, which Hearst Connecticut Media obtained through a Freedom of Information request. At $308,044, Galarza’s gross pay was about $27,000 more than the next highest-paid earner last fiscal year, records show. His budgeted salary was $118,303, Hamden Finance Director Curtis Eatman said. Galarza also earned a stipend worth about $33,700.

As a member of the United Public Service Employees Union, Galarza must be paid for any overtime hours worked, unlike non-union town employees.

Sean Grace, chief of staff to Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett, said Thursday that Galarza’s hefty overtime earnings stemmed from shortages in the finance office.

“Rick has had to take on a lot of additional responsibilities in the department; he works a lot of hours” Grace said. “He’s really central to what we do in terms of managing a $300 million budget.”

The town gradually has been bolstering municipal staffing levels since Garrett took office, Grace said. The mayor’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which she will present at the March 18 Legislative Council meeting, also will call for another increase in staff, he added.

“Our auditors have recommended increasing staff in finance because they recognize that’s a need,” Grace said.

Retired former Police Chief Timothy Wydra was the second highest earner in fiscal year 2023 with a total salary of $280,965.85, which included $4,165 in overtime as well as a retirement payout of accrued benefits. Wydra joined the Milford Police Department in November 2023.

Following Wydra as top earners were firefighter Sayyid Abdur-Rahman at $231,704.49, including $1,338 in overtime and a retirement payout of accrued benefits, police officer Michael Sigmon at $222,640.15, including $26,847 in overtime and $72,778.69 in special duty pay, and Superintendent of Schools Gary Highsmith at $219,300, records show.

Galarza was Hamden’s acting finance director following the retirement of Salvatore DeCola in 2018. After resigning from the department, Galarza was rehired as deputy finance director in 2020. He previously served as the finance director for the Hispanic Health Council and as the director of management and budget for Hartford for almost 20 years.

Following the top five, here are the rest of Hamden’s highest-paid employees in fiscal year 2023:

• Giovanni Ferrucci, firefighter, $217,603.75, with $110,936 of that in overtime.

• Timothy McKeon, police officer, $212,157.21, with $35,003 of that in overtime and $60,644.29 in special duty pay.

• William May, police officer, $210,882.22, with $41,845 of that in overtime and $54,948.59 in special duty pay.

• Seth Patrick, firefighter, $209,284.84, with $97,609 of that in overtime.

• Zachary Criscuolo, firefighter, $209,284.84, with $99,428 of that in overtime.

• Eric Goclowski, police officer, $206,644.38, $51,048 of that in overtime and $35,274.66 in special duty pay.

• Paul Calamita, police officer, $206,432.92, with $39,815 of that in overtime and $52,264.33 in special duty pay.

• Brian Gagnon, firefighter, $205,535.00, with $86,151 of that in overtime.

• Steven Teague, police officer, $201,447.71, with $39,998 of that in overtime and $59,482.88 in special duty pay.

• Jason Venditto, police officer, $200,077.18, with $56,377 of that in overtime and $44,186.21 in special duty pay.

• Timothy Doyle, firefighter, $198,090.01, with $86,123 of that in overtime.

• Robert Daniello, police officer, $194,862.31, with $27,127 of that in overtime and $30,945.97 in special duty pay.

• Jaime Bonet, firefighter, $194,629.45, with $82,831 of that in overtime.

• Donald Remillard, $193,344.11, with $10,699 of that in overtime, $33,966.47 in special duty pay and a retirement payout.

• Brent Zuscin, police officer, $191,457.45, with $34,082 of that in overtime and $37,964.43 in special duty pay.