While the economy is slowly recovering, many people are still looking for jobs and trying to make ends meet. However, two people's early retirement saved six people's jobs from heading to the chopping block. In Hammonton, New Jersey police chief Frank Ingemi and municipal clerk Susanne Oddo, announced that they would retire on Jan.1 2011, according to thehamptonnews.com. The retirements of the two highest paid municipal employees will prevent layoffs of four police officers, and two other municipal employes. Oddo, who made $102,000 a year, will serve as a consultant for the town clerk's office, making a new salary of $34,133. Ingemi, who made about $115,000, will serve as the town's emergency management coordinator, and will be paid $34,133 a year. Part of the four-year contract, that will prevent the layoffs of the four police officers, includes a salary freeze for 2010, a $500 salary increase in 2011 and a 2.5% salary increase in 2012 and 2013, according to the news source. "This assurance gives these officers peace of mind for the next four years and maintains the manpower of the police department at its current levels so they continue to provide the protection and service to the residents of Hammonton that they are entitled to," Myron Plotkin, a labor consultant for the Police Benevolent Association, said to the news source. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of police officers is expected to grow 10% between 2008 and 2018.  |