STUART — To contend with the ongoing budgetary uncertainties facing local governments, Stuart City commissioners Monday unanimously approved an early retirement incentive package for city workers.

In addition to regular retirement benefits, city employees who would be eligible for retirement by Sept. 30 can opt to receive 36 months of paid insurance at their current coverage and premium level or a lump-sum, before-tax payout of $20,000, said Stuart City Manager Dan Hudson.

About 24 employees would be eligible for the program, Hudson said.

Additionally, the city will offer a voluntary early separation package that would pay two weeks of an employee’s after-tax base salary for each year of service up to 10 years.

Voluntary separation participants would retain the city’s health insurance plan at current premium contribution levels through Sept. 30 and have the option to purchase up to two additional years of insurance at the total premium rate in effect to the city at the beginning of each plan year.

Filling vacancies left by the program will be examined on a case-by-case basis, Hudson said.

“Obviously, if a dispatcher, for example, leaves or takes early retirement, we would need to fill that position,” Hudson said.

“It puts the ball in play,” said Hudson. “It gives us the opportunity to hire a part-time employee, or an employee at less pay or move another person from another position.”

Both programs will be open for an election period ending May 29.

The Stuart City Commission also:

• Authorized the Stuart Parks and Recreation Department to receive a $513,823 grant award from the Children’s Services Council of Martin County for the East Stuart Youth Initia´tive Program.

The award will distribute $203,625 to the Parks and Recreation Department, $134,959 to Tykes and Teens, $127,783 to the Boys and Girls Club and $47,455 to the Stuart Police Youth In´tervention Office.

The grant will be used to offset costs of additional staff, new programs and existing neighborhood serv´ices at the 10th Street Rec´reation Center in East Stu´art.

• Approved an updated parking violation ordinance that includes a $15 hike for several instances of illegal parking.

Cars blocking a driveway, loading zone, yellow curb or encroaching a sidewalk will now find a $25 citation on windshields, up from the previous $10 fine. Parking a 1-ton or more truck in a resi´dential zone will cost the owner $25, and leaving a car in a temporary tow-away zone will be fined $100.

Fines that are not paid within 10 days automatically double in amount under the new ordinance.
By Jim Mayfield

Tags: author, boy, car, children, citations, club, commissioners, fines, girl, government, grants, Health, insurance, ordinance, police, salary, sidewalks, Stuart, teen, teens, violations, violators, zoning

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