ALBANY – The state government’s overtime king is a treatment assistant at a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane who made $90,000 over his regular salary last year, The Post has learned.
Robert Henry’s overtime at Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center nearly tripled his base $50,312 salary last year, according to figures on the top 20 overtime earners of 2004 provided at The Post’s request by the state comptroller’s office.
Henry, who has worked for the state since 1983, walked away with $140,000 last year.
“The job calls for it,” Henry told The Post unapologetically after being contacted by phone at his job.
“I’m a public servant, and I’m happy to do public service,” he said. “Money is of secondary importance. It’s a pleasure to work with the disadvantaged.”
Perhaps even more astounding is the OT raked in by Richelle Gian, a developmental aide at the Western New York Developmental Disabilities Service Office.
While she was second to Henry on the OT list, making $85,664 last year in extra pay, Gian’s base salary is much lower.
Gian, who’s been with the state since 1989, made $33,373 last year, meaning her overtime was more than 2½ times her salary.
“That may be the all-time champ,” said E.J. McMahon, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. “I don’t think I’ve ever come across that big a difference.”
Including Henry and Gian, eight state employees made at least $80,000 in overtime last year.
Many of the top OT earners last year worked at psychiatric facilities or for the State Police.
“When you’re seeing overtime that approaches or exceeds 100 percent of a senior employee’s salary, the old argument that it’s cheaper to pay the overtime than hiring another person just doesn’t wash,” McMahon said.
State Office of Mental Health official Jill Daniels said her agency’s facilities “are open 24-7, and staffing levels need to be maintained.”
She said the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center, where Henry works, has seen an increased demand for staff hours.
The agency, she added, is “taking several steps to increase staffing at the facility.”
Top 10 state government overtime
NameJobSalaryOvertime
1. Robert B. Henry Treatment assistant at Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center $50,312 $90,258
2. Richelle Gian Developmental aide at Western New York Development Disabilities Office $33,373 $85,664
3. Troy Cooper Maintenance supervisor at Manhattan Psychiatric Center $44,067 $84,482
4. Olukemi Akinyemi Nurse at Bronx Psychiatric Center $47,422 $83,096
5. Elsy E. Kottuppallil Nurse at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center $47,422 $82,348
6. Kuei Mei Lin Nurse at Rochester Psychiatric Center $57,598 $81,499
7. Samia A. Youssef Pharmacist at Downstate Hospital $78,830 $80,904
8. Walter Rice Prison guard at Greene Correctional Facility $50,312 $80,063
9. Bernard Steele Pharmacist at Green Haven Correctional Facility $57,598 $76,596
10. Robert W. Lowry State police trooper $67,457 $76,334
Source: State Comptroller’s Office