EAA Salaries

A few months ago the Gannett press began publishing salary information for city employees and others. Given that the "not-for-profit" EAA has received considerable taxpayer assistance in a variety of forms over the years, it's only right that citizens become more aware of the organization's compensation for key employees.

The data below are from EAA's 2006 Form 990 ("Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax"). This form is open to public inspection.

Officer Salaries:

• Tom Poberezny (President): $446,592
• Paul Poberezny (Chairman): $105,625
• Brian Wierzbinski (Executive VP): $226,876
• Robert Warner (Senior VP): $178,374
• Adam Smith (VP Museum and Education): $150,946

Five Highest Paid Employees Other Than Officers, Directors, Trustees:

• Rick Larsen (VP Marketing and Comm): $192,541
• Elissa Lines (VP Development): $139,570
• Lee Siudzinski (Education Director): $209,044
• Beatrice Germinario (VP Human Resources): $143,876
• Earl Lawrence (VP Gov't and Ind. Rltns): $121,186

EAA reports that 38 additional employees make over $50,000.

As EAA gets set to reintroduce its request for TIF assistance from the city, I do hope the local press takes its responsibility seriously to do more than cheerlead for the organization.