City Hall’s months’ long attempt to lure well-paid veteran workers into early retirement seems premature to more employees than expected.
Instead of being able to lure a hefty crowd toward the door, the reality is a fraction.
City Manager John Nachbar, carefully choosing his words, was reluctant to identify specifics.
“Maybe close to 10 or a dozen people,” he said.
Twenty-five agreements “would have been helpful,” although well short of his original goal.
He was clear that he wants any seminal information about employment, present and future, to be relayed to workers directly by him, and not through the vehicle of a nmewspaper.
Two months ago, on Feb. 1, Mr. Nachbar told the newspaper he was hoping to interest at least 50 employees, aged 50 and over, into accepting a bonus as a magnet to retire and help out the city’s groaning financial situation.
The workers have until May 14 to make their decision.
What can the City Manager do?
“In several weeks I am going to come out with some information, a report,” Mr. Nachbar said. “The golden handshakes are just a part of this. I don’t want to give too much advance comment. There are multiple audiences, and one audience is the employees. Before I do anything, I really want to have an opportunity to meet with them.”
