New Castle Council grants early pensions to 2 officers

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council has adopted an ordinance granting early pensions to two police officers.
Essentially, the measure reduces service time for police officers to retire with full pensions to 191/2 years. Under the previous pension plan, officers needed 25 years on the job to be eligible for a full pension.
The ordinance replaces one adopted earlier this year, which specified officers must have 191/2 years of credited service before Feb. 28, 2006. The new law changes the date to June 30, 2006.
Council members haven't said why they lowered the retirement standard for two people.
Loretta Spielvogel and Richard Russo are the only officers eligible under the early buyout. City officials have said it is unlikely Spielvogel and Russo will be replaced.
In other business at its recent meeting, council appointed Carmen Rozzi to the New Castle Area Transit Authority, filling the unexpired term of Donald Conti who resigned. The term expires Aug. 31, 2008.