Instead of laying off two members of the city police force, council decided unanimously to let two policemen retire nine months early.

David Ristvey, lawyer for Fraternal Order of Police, said the union was looking for a way to save money for the cash-strapped city while not losing experienced policemen.

Letting Mark Yassem and Kenneth Mild retire this year -- both would be eligible for early retirement in 2004 -- will save the city between $15,000 and $17,000 this year, said Finance Director Michael Gasparich.

"This is not a three- or five-year break," said Councilman Raymond Fabian. "It is nine months."

Under the current contract, an early retirement incentive allows policemen to retire at age 50 if they have enough service time. Gasparich said Yassem and Mild could retire this year if council would lower the age to 49.

"It is a contractual issue, not a legal issue," Ristvey said.

Upon retiring, the policemen are entitled to a lump-sum payment for unused sick, personal and vacation days.

That would amount to $45,000, money Gasparich said the police department doesn't have to put out at once.

Instead of a lump-sum payment, he said, the policemen could receive regular payments. If they retire at the end of March, he said, they would be on the payroll until October.

Council agreed to let them retire as long as they are off the payroll by Dec. 31 and they waive their right to vacation pay in 2004. Police earn their vacation time to be taken the next year; that is, vacation earned in 2003 can not be taken until 2004.