7th officer accepts city’s early-retirement deal

By David Skolnick

The city won’t hire officers to replace those taking the buyout offer.

YOUNGSTOWN — A seventh police officer is leaving the department today after accepting an early-retirement buyout from the city.

Det. Sgt. Kenneth Linden, who earns $62,541.30 annually in base salary, filed paperwork with the city Thursday to take the offer.

Linden is retiring effective today, with the city’s board of control formally approving the buyout at a special meeting Monday, said Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello, a member of the three-person board.

Linden is the seventh and last member of the Youngstown Police Ranking Officers union accepting the deal, she said.

The city doesn’t plan to replace any of the seven officers.

But the city must promote a detective sergeant or sergeant to lieutenant as part of the minimum staffing level required under the agreement.

The buyout calls for officers to receive a year’s base salary paid over five years beginning in 2010.

With the buyouts, the ranking officers union’s membership will drop to 56.

The early-retirement offer won’t save any money for the city this year.

Youngstown faces a projected $1.15 million shortfall in this year’s general fund.

City administrators say layoffs are inevitable. But, to date, the city hasn’t laid off any of its employees.

Starting next year, the buyout will save the city more than $500,000 annually.