COLQUHOUN: Taxpayers Are Paying the Cost

Loyalty within municipal government often carries a cost, and Nashua taxpayers are paying it without knowing how much. A review of Nashua’s payroll shows that municipal salaries are significantly higher than both the New Hampshire state average and national benchmarks.

In 2024 payroll data, the average salary for City of Nashua employees is $84,948, which is 14% higher than the national average and 55% higher than the New Hampshire state average. In 2025, the City of Nashua has 40 employees making salaries larger than the Governor of New Hampshire ($146,172), the State of New Hampshire Attorney General (141,390), and the State Comptroller ($140,348).

It was recently disclosed that the Mayor failed to include documentation for $3,185,885 in salary increases for FY2027. This omission will further inflate the budget and raises serious questions about the City’s internal controls, financial oversight, and commitment to transparent governance.

The impact is substantial. Nashua will be paying 389 employees’ salaries ranging from $85,137.73 to $227,831.55, far exceeding typical compensation levels across New Hampshire. Of these, 176 employees earn more than $100,000 annually.

Residents were not allowed to review or comment on these salary increases before they were implemented on July 1, 2026. This lack of public disclosure demonstrates a troubling pattern: the City of Nashua is not providing, and does not intend to provide, meaningful transparency to its residents.

Below, I will list some of the salaries so residents can evaluate whether these compensation levels and the newly disclosed increases align with performance, accountability, and Nashua’s financial reality.

NAMEPOSITIONFY2027 SALARY%
FAUTEUX, LISADIRECTOR PUBLIC WORKS$189,137.318.82%
CUMMINGS, TIMOTHYADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIR/COO$181,862.728.51%
BOLTON, STEVENCORPORATION COUNSEL$181,862.728.51%
HUDSON, DANIELCITY ENGINEER$175,941.5810.72%
ENWRIGHT, DAWNCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER$174,868.108.52%
MISEIRVITCH, NICHOLASCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER$169,174.7210.79%
CLARKE, DOROTHYDEPUTY CORPORATION COUNSEL$169,174.7210.79%
LEONARD, CELIADEPUTY CORPORATION COUNSEL$169,174.7210.79%
BAGLEY, BOBBIEDIRECTOR HEALTH AND COMM SVS$168,142.4210.11%
SULLIVAN, MATTHEWDIRECTOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT$161,675.2810.12%
LEBLANC, MATTHEWASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS$156,411.4211.02%
HANNUM, ELIZABETHECONOMIC DEV DIRECTOR$150,395.6510.80%
BARNES, JONATHANASSISTANT CORP COUNSEL$136,742.3210.15%
HEALEY, DANIELCITY CLERK$131,483.0410.15%
BARRY, PATRICIADEP TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR$123,816.1610.82%
CARON, MEGANCHIEF OF STAFF$118,327.6611.52%
HAGG, JESSICAARLINGTON ST COMMUNITY CTR DIR$81,419.3119.24%
PERRIN, GARYRECORDS ADMINISTRATOR$82,784.8311.14%
MCGUINNESS, MICHAELDEPUTY HEALTH OFFICER$101,146.8619.16%
ORDWAY, ROGERDEPUTY CITY CLERK$101,146.8617.74%
JUNGERS, MICHAELMANAGER URBAN PROGRAMS$101,146.8612.15%
DEROCHE, AMYPROPERTY MANAGER$101,767.959.30%
LLOYD, MINDYLEGAL ASSISTANT$74,303.018.82%
PERRY, MANUELALEGAL ASSISTANT$74,303.018.82%
MCCARTHY, CHRISTOPHERPUB HEALTH PREPAREDNESS COORD$95,833.9211.56%
CONDE, KARENNFR BUSINESS MANAGER$113,776.6211.53%
TRIPP, LYNSENIOR FINANCE MANAGER$113,776.6211.53%
MULHOLLAND, DIANETREASURER TAX COLLECTOR$139,902.8811.49%
O’CONNOR, CAROLYNASSISTANT DIR PW FINANCE & ADMIN.$151,318.9611.48%
BYERS, LAURENCOM AND RECREATION ADMIN$113,082.3211.45%
HOSKING, JENNIFERASSISTANT DIRECTOR LIBRARY$117,605.4911.45%
MCKINNEY, WILLIAMBUILDING DEPARTMENT MANAGER$117,605.4911.45%
MARTIN, FLAVIADEPUTY CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE$117,605.4911.45%
FOURNIER, CATHYEMPLOYEE BENEFITS MANAGER$117,605.4911.45%
LLOYD, NATHANIT MANAGER TECHNICAL OPERATIONS$117,605.4911.45%
DONOVAN, PETERPAYROLL MANAGER$117,605.4911.45%
DURFEE, SAMUELMANAGER PLANNING DEPT$142,212.1010.86%
STANSFIELD, JILLPARKING MANAGER$110,072.1410.83%
GIRARD, AMYPURCHASING MANAGER$110,072.1410.83%
TOOHEY, JASONIT MANAGER, PROJECT/DEV SERVICES$137,581.8110.82%
CHISHOLM, DEBORAHSUSTAINABILITY MANAGER$137,581.8110.82%
MACK, ROBERTWELFARE OFFICER$137,581.8110.82%
MENDOLA, GIUSEPPESENIOR STAFF ENGINEER$119,054.0010.82%
BROWN, DORIAENERGY MANAGER$123,816.1610.82%
FRANZ, MATTHEWSENIOR STAFF ENGINEER$123,816.1610.82%
HUSBAND, WAYNESENIOR TRAFFIC ENGINEER$123,816.1610.82%
KEATING, WILLIAMSENIOR WASTEWATER ENGINEER$123,816.1610.82%
HUNNEWELL, JAYBUILDING MANAGER$103,021.3610.65%
DEAN, STEPHANIEPAYROLL SUPERVISOR$103,021.3610.65%
RUSH, MICHAELFLEET SUPERINTENDENT$153,816.6210.63%
LAFLEUR, JEFFREYSUPERINTENDENT OF SOLID WASTE$153,816.6210.63%
CONANT, BRYANSUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS$153,816.6210.63%
IBARRA, JONATHANSUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS$153,816.6210.63%
BOUCHER, DAVIDSUPERINTENDENT OF WASTEWATER$153,816.6210.63%
LONES, RYANDIVISION OPERATIONS MANAGER$121,563.5210.16%
WELSH, MICHELLEASSESSING MANAGER$109,400.5110.15%
CORREA, CAMILLETRANSIT ADMINISTRATOR$136,742.3210.15%
DESHAIES, JENNIFERRISK MANAGER$152,248.109.50%
BECOTTE, CHRISTINEDEPUTY RISK MANAGER$115,177.929.15%
POEHNERT, JEFFREYPEG PROGRAM MANAGER$88,063.049.13%
FOURNIER, PAULSUPERINTENDENT CEMETERY I$88,063.049.13%
LENNOX, KENNETHSUPERINTENDENT CEMETERY II$88,063.049.13%
BERNARD, KIMBERLYCHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE$135,347.899.02%
SAUNDERS, MARKDEPUTY CITY ENGINEER$135,347.899.02%
PEEK-KUKULKA, HEIDIHEALTH OFFICER$135,347.899.02%
EISENMANN, MICHAELSTAFF ENGINEER$87,759.988.76%
QUINTERO, NATALIASTAFF ENGINEER$87,759.988.76%
MILLER, KERRYTRANSIT MOBILITY MANAGER$87,759.988.76%
MCCORMACK, JENNIFERDIRECTOR LIBRARY$150,395.658.17%
MARTUSCELLO, EMILYEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIR$150,395.658.17%
DURAND, RENEEACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGER$99,058.968.11%
AZIZ, EBRAMPUB HEALTH NURSE$95,249.027.89%
SPADAFORA, SOPHIAPUB HEALTH NURSE$95,249.027.89%
SUTHERLAND, LAURENGIS SPECIALIST$103,021.367.89%
GANNON, ROBERTGIS SPECIALIST ADMIN SER$103,021.367.89%
GLASTETTER, PATRICIAPUB HEALTH NURSE$103,021.367.89%
STROMS, SASCHAPUB HEALTH NURSE$103,021.367.89%
MARTIN, DEBORAHMOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS MFR$107,142.267.88%
CARL, LISAACCOUNTING MANAGER$125,136.757.87%
ORTEGA, NELSONMGR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPT$113,776.627.82%
PALMER, KATHLEENCOM AND EVENTS SPECIALIST$86,924.037.72%
MALO, ARLENEPROPERTY AND CASUALTY ADJUSTER$86,924.037.72%
SANTOS, DARRINENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER$133,102.537.22%
HEAVNER, ELYSEEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORD$91,585.736.61%
GRAHAM, DONNALEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS MANAGER$119,054.006.55%
CORMIER, AMANDAASST SUPERINTENDENT PREVENTION$115,843.945.58%
LABRIE, JEFFREYASST SUPERINTENDENT PREVENTION$115,843.945.58%

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