Longtime Pittsburgh bureaucrats, a former city councilman and an employee involved in a federal investigation of police would be eligible for Mayor-elect Bill Peduto’s early retirement plan, city records show.

The list ranges from secretaries to Ravenstahl administration honchos such as Finance Director Scott Kunka, one of the highest salaried city employees.

It includes Anthony Pokora, a former city controller who serves as assistant finance director; Jeff Koch, a public works supervisor who served on council from 2006 to 2007; and Sandy Ganster, the police finance director who has been on paid suspension since March, when the FBI charged former police Chief Nate Harper with skimming department cash. Records show that qualifying employees make as little as $23,321 and as much at $105,981 a year.

Employees say their decision whether to retire, should City Council approve Peduto’s proposal, largely would depend on their ability to pay for health care. The employees in question are not eligible for post-retirement health care coverage.

“That’s the killer for me,” said Ray DeMichiei, 59, of Morningside, who has 39 years of service and is emergency management coordinator.

“If they gave me health care, I’d be gone in a heartbeat,” DeMichiei said.

Peduto, who takes office in January, wants to offer the deal to non-union employees, 132 of whom would qualify. City records show those employees collect more than $7.5 million in salaries annually.

They would have to be at least 50 and have combined age and service of at least 70 years. Ordinarily, a city employee must be at least 60 with 20 years’ service to retire with full benefits. Retirees who draw a pension receive half of their annual salary averaged over their last three years.

Kevin Acklin, who will be Peduto’s chief of staff, said this week that the plan would cost the city an extra $2 million in annual pension payouts. The administration wants employees who will work hard for city interests, he said. Early retirement gives veterans who don’t think they can meet Peduto’s expectations a “soft landing,” he said.

“I welcome that” challenge, said Gerald Akrie, 50, animal control supervisor, who would qualify with his 20 years of service. “There’s nobody who works harder for the residents than us.”

Akrie of Chartiers said the offer is generous, but he likes his job too much to quit.

Moe Coleman, director emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics, said it looks as though Peduto is trying to dump deadbeat employees, but the plan could backfire.

“The problem is you may lose some of your best people,” he said. “You can’t make an assumption that everybody who works for city government is not competent. A lot of them are very competent.”

Kunka and Pokora did not return phone calls. Ganster, who makes $71,920, remains on paid leave, said her attorney, William Difenderfer. He said he didn’t know whether she would take the retirement offer. “The last time I talked to her, she totally wants to go back to work,” he said.

Koch, 51, of Arlington said he has two children on his city health care plan, and it would be hard to retire without medical coverage.

“I could afford to quit without health care if I don’t pay for it,” he said.

Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com.

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