Assessor, Purchasing Agent Among Those Retiring

Hamden Assessor Jim Clynes and Purchasing Agent Rich Cumpstone are among the 25 town employees who accepted Mayor Scott Jackson's retirement incentive package.

The salaries of those retiring as of Aug. 31 range from $41,000 to Clynes' salary of $95,448.78. And while some of those positions will have to be filled, as many as possible won't, according to town officials.

"The administration's goal is to save as much money as possible as a result of this program," said Chief Administrative Officer Curt Balzano Leng. "Only essential functions to the town's operations-- positions that directly affect our ability to provide services to residents -- will be carefully considered for refilling."

Two Public Works heavy equipment operators are among those retiring, along with a mechanic and a parks maintainer. Several secretaries also took the incentive, including the mayor's secretary, as well as two communications technicians, a deputy tax collector, an assistant town clerk and three people in library positions.

"We're working to reduce the size of government while maintaining the services we provide -- and we believe we can achieve that through this program," he said. 

In addition to those accepting the retirement incentive are two police officers who are retiring, Balzano said. Police and fire department employees weren't eligible for the incentive program, so these retirements are on top of that program.

"In addition to the savings procured through the retirement incentive program, there are also two police officers retiring," he said. "This will produce additional savings as the new officers will be hired at a lower salary."

"The purchasing agent is one of the top priorities that we will need to fill -- you need a qualified, experienced and honest purchasing agent for the town of Hamden's $192 million annual budget," Leng said. "That position has more opportunity to save the town money than any I can think of.

"We've been very fortunate to have Judi Kozak and Rich Cumpstone keeping a close eye on things in this position for the last 20 years," he said. "The town can only hope to find a candidate with their extensive collective skills."

 

Town of Hamden - Preliminary Early Retirement Incentive POSITIONS Savings

          Name


Budgeted Net




Salary Savings   Fire Secretary
     52,349.25  31,445.29   Heavy Equip Operator PW
     57,314.04  37,429.37   Parks Maintainer
     50,421.69  26,973.66   Assessor
     95,448.78  57,334.43   Purchasing Agent
     74,864.09  44,969.56   Communications Tech.
     53,466.35  32,606.00   Parks Maintainer
     50,421.60  35,953.99   Library Tech Asst.
     43,056.86  8,280.17   Recreation Coordinator
     70,183.33  38,402.24   Communications Tech.
     53,466.35  33,565.30   Mechanic PW
     62,964.37  37,821.61   Heavy Equip Operator PW
     57,314.04  (6,252.54)   Communications Tech.
     53,466.35  43,544.23   Librarian III
     66,343.63  39,851.47   Asst. Town Clerk
     66,442.26  36,438.47   Librarian
     61,715.06  42,095.44   Engineering Inspector
     60,927.48  38,952.89   Fire secretary
     52,349.25  33,738.59   Elderly Outreach
     45,218.55  30,882.10   Purchasing Technician
     52,349.25  31,445.29   Communications Tech.
     53,466.35  32,116.31   Deputy Tax Collector
     70,183.33  42,157.91   Mayor's Secretary
     57,713.29  34,667.37   Communications Tech.
     53,466.35  25,678.51   Switchboard Operator         41,011.70  23,271.30      370,000.00 Totals          1,455,923.60  1,203,368.96