Print

Early Retirement Details

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

September 09, 2009

Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the deadline for city employees to say if they wanted to take an early retirement incentive offer.

And today, just over 23 hours later, Cityline brings you the list of the 37 people who said yes.

Their last day of work will be no later than Sept. 30.

The retirement incentive program offered health insurance and pension credits for eligible employees. The details can be read below. The city is hoping that -- between union concessions and this retirement incentive plan -- it can save $3.2 million this year.

Police and fire were not included in the offer, nor were non-union and unclassified employees "because the city can't afford to lose too many people at the same time," said Sarah Barr, the mayor's spokeswoman, earlier this summer. "We're trying to avoid the brain-drain that occurred in 2003."

But notably hit is the Department of Public Works, where several managers - including the superintendents of streets and waste management - are leaving. Also notable is the departure of Mark Turcotte, the city's procurement director.

Chief Operating Officer David Panagore said Wednesday that it's too soon to know whether the city met its fiscal targets with the program. He also said that "doing more with less" is the name of the municipal game in this economic climate.

But while the city will work to maintain the level of services it provides its residents and property owners, the point of the program was saving money, Panagore said.

"The purpose in doing it was to be able to meet the budget projections," Panagore said.