New plan whittles layoffs to five

Vernon — Retirements and furloughs have saved some municipal jobs in Vernon. Five positions are still slated for layoff: the posts of township engineer, surveyor, personnel director, benefits clerk and one police officer. The township has proposed a plan to save $62,000 and prevent its DPW from laying off staff. To achieve this savings, all other township employees except police, fire and dispatch workers would take five-day furloughs, according to Brian Palaia, Vernon’s deputy manager. While a police officer is on the line to be laid off, another officer has put in for disability. If that is approved, it could cancel the need to lay off another officer. The original plan called for three police to be laid off, but two have announced retirement. The new layoff plan has yet to be approved.