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HARTFORD -- Governor Jodi Rell announced today an executive order that will limit the number of retired state employees who can be rehired on temporary contracts. The announcement comes as more than 3000 state employees get ready to take advantage of an early retirement program. Some people in key positions are retiring, including some in the state’s Environmental Protection Agency.

The Department is losing its Director of Wildlife, its Bureau Chief for Natural Resources and its Bureau Chief for Outdoor Recreation. That person oversees state parks, environmental conservation police and boating. D.E.P. Spokesperson Dennis Schain said others in the agency will step-in to take over some of these positions on an acting basis, but he’s hopeful the D.E.P. will get permission to fill some permanently.

“We’re hopeful we would have the authority to do that for some select positions, but we recognize full well that part of the reason for the Retirement Incentive Program was to reduce the number of people costs and help resolve the budget issues,” said Schain, adding that D.E.P. staff have been figuring out ways to work more efficiently. “We’ll continue to work hard and do the very best job we can, recognizing though that, we may have to make some adjustments in what we do as a result of these retirements.”

Overall the D.E.P. will lose 66 out of about 1000 employees or about one out of every fifteen positions.