Santa Clara County fire chief, retiring but not leaving, will draw both salary and pension

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http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_16952881?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1

By Karen de Sá


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Posted: 12/27/2010 03:53:12 PM PST
Updated: 12/27/2010 10:03:27 PM PST

Santa Clara County's veteran fire chief, Kenneth Waldvogel, will retire at the end of the month, but the 57-year-old won't be packing up his office just yet. He'll be back on the job in January, taking home his $236,691 annual salary as a consultant -- on top of a $200,000 yearly state pension.

County officials say the move gives them time to search for a new chief, but critics call the deal a classic case of "double-dipping" -- a practice that has outraged the public and frustrated lawmakers trying to rein it in.

He said he's stepping down to travel and spend more time with his family, including his aging parents. "It's a very difficult decision and I don't make it lightly," he said.

After informing the county about six weeks ago of his retirement plans, it was agreed he would stay on as chief for $113 an hour -- an amount based on his annual salary -- while the search for a successor is conducted. Come January, he expects to receive a pension as well, which, based on his years of service in public safety, could reach $212,000 a year. (Waldvogel has opted for a slightly reduced amount, he said.)