But now that they have submitted their retirement letters, Mayor James R. Miron wants to move "as quickly as possible" to fill the posts.

"We will conduct a national search for the two positions and hope to find at least several top finalists to select for each of the top jobs," Miron said. "But we won't rush it. These are among the top town jobs, and we want to make sure we find the best possible candidates before deciding who to hire."

Both Ulatowski, 60, and Imbro, 61, have worked for the town 38 years. Ulatowski has been town clerk for two decades, while Imbro has been chief the past five years.

Miron said his office, the Police Department and Human Resources Department, headed by Director Marilyn Flores, will conduct a "full criminal background check" before making final decisions on those offered the jobs.

Miron came under fire last month by Town Council members and political foes for hiring Mark Haddad as his new chief administrative officer when allegations later surfaced of sexual harassment and fiscal mismanagement by Haddad in earlier jobs. Those allegations were strongly denied by both Miron and Haddad.

Miron was criticized in particular for halting a police background check on Haddad just as it was getting under way.

Miron insists that won't happen this time.

"First of all, we did have the State Police do the background check on Mr. Haddad," Miron said.

"For both the police chief and town clerk we will have the Stratford police conduct the criminal background check," he said.

Miron also responded to criticism by Republican Registrar Louis DeCilio, who has questioned whether there would be even a short-term savings to the town as a result of the executive early-retirement packages, as the mayor has claimed.

"I don't see how the town is saving anything much even in the short run, and over the long term this will cost the town a lot of money," DeCilio said. But Miron insisted the town will "realize an immediate $30,000 cost savings in salary and benefits for the two positions" when Ulatowski and Imbro leave, and would not lose money in the long run as a result of the pensions.

"We did an in-depth cost analysis and the Finance Department's numbers show this will not have a negative long-term impact," the mayor said.

The Town Council two weeks ago approved the mayor's proposal in a 6-4 vote.

Imbro, paid an annual salary of $100,000, and Ulatowski, whose salary is $79,000, would start collecting their pensions after they retire. But the 2 percent annual increases don't kick in until they turn 65.