By contract, Timothy Bassett's minimum salary must be the average of the salaries of the two highest-paid town managers or administrators among the Essex Regional Retirement Board's members. Historically, that has been the town managers in Ipswich and North Andover, the two largest communities in the system.
Here's how the jobs — and salaries — stack up.
Mark Rees
Town manager
Town of North Andover
Size of community: 29,000
Annual budget: $75 million
Salary: $129,250
Bob Markel
Town manager
Town of Ipswich
Size of community: 15,000
Annual budget: $60 million*
Salary: $120,000
* Includes budget for the Electric Light Department, over which Markel has control
Timothy Bassett
Executive director
Essex Regional Retirement Board
Size of community: 5,000*
Annual budget: $1.3 million
Salary: $134,250
* active and retired members of retirement system
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
