SHARON Incentive to retire offered

The firefighters union has agreed to the plan.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Six city firefighters would get a big boost in their pensions should they decide to take advantage of a retirement incentive offer by the city.
Firefighter pensions are normally 50 percent of their salary, but the city is offering 70 percent, if the six firefighters take retirement within the next four years, said Michael Gasparich, city finance director.
The firefighters union has agreed to the plan, he told city council Thursday.
The pension fund can handle the load and it is legal to make the offer, Gasparich added.
Long-term savings: The move could save the city $185,000 over seven years, he said.
The average firefighter salary is about $30,000 a year, but new firefighters start at $19,000, Gasparich said, noting it takes them six years to reach the maximum salary step.
Councilman George Gulla said he thinks the retirement window may be too long, and he questioned the wisdom of allowing the firefighters to determine who would retire first.
Retirement should be by seniority, Gulla said.
Gasparich said the retirement window was spread out over four years because the department couldn't afford to lose six veterans, one-third of its force, in a year.
Fred Hoffman, council president, said the retirement incentive was the firefighters' idea and isn't mandatory. Nothing says they have to take the offer, he said.
"It's a win-win situation," said Councilman Lou Rotunno. Firefighters get a better pension, the city saves money and doesn't lose manpower because the retirees will be replaced with younger firefighters, he said.