One of the primary jobs of a nonprofit board is to hire an executive. One of the hiring tasks include setting the value of that executive. Value of course refers to salaries and benfits. And it is the nonprofit board's job to determine value based on any number of factors including job requirements and demands, comparable rates paid by other nonprofits, and of course, the skills, knowledge and experience of the particular individual.
Interestingly it is executive salaries and benefits that are often one of the elements the public and the media and sometimes the government raises the most questions about a nonprofit over pretty much any other aspect of a nonprofit including outcomes. Maybe it's because donors can best see how their dollars are being used in the form of the exec salary. And, I'm sure there are a bunch of other reasons, some more rationale than the next.
So it's really unlikely that the public or media will let salary go as a topic to discuss when thinking about nonprofits. And its really unlikely the public or media will let salary go as a topic when added information indicates that the recipient doesn't appear to be working full time for a full time job or even working at the location of the nonprofit. That's the story the Hartford Courant reported on about an area nonprofit.
Bottom line: it's still up to the nonprofit board to determine what it needs and is willing to pay to get the outcomes it values. Yes, there are consequences for decisions which on the surface maybe cause head scratching but nonprofit boards: this is your job. Let prudence be your guide and good luck if you fail at that.