Norcross OKs early retirement for police

The Norcross City Council has approved early retirement for police officers 55 or older with 20 years of service.

The council’s Monday night vote applies to four officers, acting City Manager Rudolph Smith said. It means they will not have their benefits reduced if they choose to retire early. The vote was 5-0.

In other action, the council:

> Approved reducing stormwater fees for 2009 from $2.17 to $1.25 per 100 square feet of impervious surface, such as sidewalks and driveways. Approximately two-thirds of the homes in Norcross have less than 3,000 square feet of impervious surface area.

> Approved a special use permit allowing a church, El Shaddai Missionary Center, to lease space in the Veridian Office Park at 6875 Jimmy Carter Blvd. The property currently is zoned office industrial.

> Discussed changing council members’ terms of office from two years to four years. Out of Georgia’s 511 cities, 48 have two-year terms. Of those 48, two currently are transitioning to four-year terms.