The three highest-earning Rye employees topped out at just over $200,000 in 2024, city records show.
Ex-City Manager Greg Usry earned the highest salary among Rye employees last year, commanding a $215,000 income. Usry stepped down from his position this March, after a 5-year run overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city. His salary rose from $195,000 when he was first appointed to an interim position in 2019.
Longtime City Engineer Ryan Coyne finished a close second, earning $212,000 in 2024. He was followed by Kristen Wilson, the city attorney, who collected $200,000.
The salaries were obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request for all 172 city employees. The employees include those in the police, fire and public works departments, as well as representatives in City Hall, the recreation, finance, and building departments, Rye Golf Club and the Boat Basin, the assessor’s office, IT employees, human resources, and the engineering and planning departments.
Coyne, who has led the Engineering Department 2012, spearheaded the management of the Nursery Field project to install artificial turf at the Milton Road site, which wrapped up in late April.
Public Safety Commissioner Michael Kopy, who was hired by the city in 2021, made $195,000 in 2024. Prior to coming to Rye, Kopy served as the state’s former director of emergency management under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lt. Michael Anfuso and Lt. Albert Hein both earned $166,000 last year, the next highest earners in the 45-member police department.
It is unclear what role Kopy will play with the city moving forward as the City Council considers removing the public safety commissioner position and splitting oversight of the police and fire departments.
Capt. Clyde Pitts was the fire department’s top earner with an income of $181,000 last year. Pitts will likely be a candidate for a new fire chief position, if the city decides to officially separate the two public safety departments.
There are 24 fire department employees listed on the city payroll.
Assistant City Manager Brian Shea made $159,000 in 2024. He was promoted to interim city manager in March, and now now earns a salary of $209,000 — $14,000 more than Usry made during his interim run.
As the council considers a shortlist of candidates for the permanent city manager role, Shea is a candidate for the position.
Usry’s predecessor, Marcus Serrano, received $195,000 for the last two years of his tenure as Rye’s city manager.
Other top city officials include City Planner Christian Miller, who earned a salary of $191,000 in 2024, and Deputy City Comptroller Joe Fazzino, who took home $187,000.
Miller will have his work cut out for him this year though, as the city moves forward with plans to update its master plan and considers development issues in the downtown area. The council has formed a committee to help develop a new master plan, something that has not been done for decades. Miller is advising that committee.
About half of the city’s employees made less than $100,000 last year. The lowest paid staff were all part of the Public Works Department, with eight workers making $55,000.
