Nearly 1/2 Of Eligible City Workers Take Early Retirement: Mayor

NORWALK, CT — Forty-four out of an eligible 91 government employees accepted Norwalk's Voluntary Retirement Incentive program, according to Mayor Harry Rilling. The primary reason for the reduction in staff is due to the heavy toll the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken on the city's finances.

The last day of work for those employees was Oct. 8, and as a result, Rilling said the city will see net savings of $525,000 recurring annually.

"The Voluntary Retirement Incentive proved to be a success," Rilling said Wednesday. "We were able to save taxpayer dollars, streamline the workforce, and adjust positions to meet the demands of our residents and businesses. This Incentive gave us the opportunity to review vacancies and positions across all departments. I appreciate the hard work and collaboration between the Unions and City officials. It wasn’t easy, but the result is a win for our community."

The program was available to Norwalk government employees over the age of 55, who had been employed by the city for at least 10 years. Those who participated in the program gained three years of additional service credit, and those under the age of 62 will not have to pay any early retirement pension penalty.

The retirements, in addition to another 37 current and anticipated vacancies, allow the city to reduce its headcount by a net of 14 positions, or 5 percent of the non-uniform government workforce. Additionally, the city plans to update the duties of many of its employees to better utilize resources.

Some vacancies will be filled at lower pay grades, but some might be re-filled, which could mean the city sees more savings, officials said. To view the city's available jobs, visit norwalkct.org/jobs.

Rilling thanked the city's unions for their efforts and cooperation in approaching the program from a positive position.

"This incentive will hopefully allow us to avoid furloughs and layoffs during these uncertain times," Rilling said. "We put the needs of the community first, made some difficult decisions, and the end result is a win for Norwalk taxpayers."