Maglione did a fine, very efficient and admirable job for the city of Bridgeport, said Stuart Rosenberg, president of the Board of Fire Commissioners. The board unanimously approved the pension at its meeting Wednesday in Fire Department headquarters.

None of the other board members commented.

Maglione is now the chief of Waterbury's Fire Department.

The former chief will receive $74,478 a year, or 75 percent of his salary as chief, and also will be paid $9,164 in unused vacation days, Rosenberg said.

Maglione, who spent seven of his 33-year career as chief, officially retired Feb. 2.

He left Bridgeport because there were only two years remaining on his second five-year contract for the job. The city's fire and police chiefs are limited to two five-year terms in those jobs under the city charter.

Maglione said Waterbury gave him a three-year contract that can be renewed an unlimited number of times.

The budgeted salary for Maglione's position in Waterbury is $101,000, compared with his $99,277 salary in Bridgeport.

Maglione is one three top municipal administrators to leave their Bridgeport jobs in the last several months.

The city bought out Sonia Diaz Salcedo's contract as schools superintendent for $125,000, including unused sick and vacation time, and Wilbur L. Chapman got $70,569, plus 4.3 weeks of personal and vacation time, when he left as police chief.

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.