Sound Shore

The New Rochelle City Council will hold a special meeting today at 5:30 to set a public hearing for Aug. 30 on a proposed early retirement incentive for certain city employees. According to a memo sent to Mayor Noam Bramson and City Council members, under state law, the city must take action on the retirement incentive program by Aug. 31 if it wishes to participate.

“The city has reviewed the program, and has determined that there is sufficient employee interest and 50 percent cost savings of salaries and benefits. Based on this assessment, Part A of the retirement incentive can be offered to 8 employees. Part A is a targeted incentive and provides one additional month of service credit for each year of credited service for an eligible member at retirement. There is a maximum incentive service credit of three years,” Assistant to the City Manager Omar T. Small wrote.

“The estimated annual cost of this program is $126,686 for a period of 5 years. The estimated annual savings from position salaries/benefits and staff realignment is $325,642. That provides an annual savings of $198,956; over 5 years the saving is $994,780,” the memo continues, noting that the figures are preliminary and subject to adjustment by the retirement system.

The retirements would be effective on or after Dec. 2, it says.

Also on the council agenda:

• Consideration of awarding a bid for $1.29 million to Bilotta Contuction for a continuation of improvments to North Avenue; the project would stretch from Morris Street to just north of the intersection with Burling Lane, and “include a new configuration at the intersection with The Boulevard.” Money for the project comes from “federal sources” including the recent stimulus bill.

• Awarding a bid for demolition of the bell tower of a former church south of the police/court building on North Avenue. According to the city, portions of the tower have recently fallen onto the sidewalk and a structural engineer recommended it be torn down ASAP. The proposal is to award a bid to Grasso Brothers Contracting for the work, at a cost of $95,000.