Peter Cianciolo's job as parking enforcement officer in Litchfield has been eliminated.

After 15 years of walking the beat as Litchfield's parking enforcement officer, Peter Cianciolo is out of a job.

First Selectman Leo Paul Jr. eliminated the position for the 2010-11 fiscal year and is hiring a part-time police officer to enforce traffic laws in the center of town. The new officer won't mark tires and hand out tickets like Cianciolo did, according to Paul.

"I'm more concerned with traffic and safety in the center of town than parking enforcement," Paul said.

Cianciolo's job ends June 30, but his last day was Wednesday. He's using two weeks of accrued vacation time until June 30. Cianciolo said he was shocked to learn his job was being slashed and said he will miss working in town.

Cutting the job and hiring a part-time officer will yield substantial savings for the town, Paul said. Cianciolo is making $40,000 this year and receives benefits. The new officer, who has yet to be hired, will be paid $30,000 and won't get benefits.

Cianciolo wrote about $28,000 in tickets in the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the town's fiscal control office.

The new police officer will also be responsible for patrolling the center of town on a daily basis and monitoring speed on Prospect, North Lake and South Lake Streets, according to Paul.

Some business owners on South and West Streets have expressed concern about the lack of a parking enforcement officer. They believe the one-hour and two-hour parking limits in the center of town will be ignored because they won't be enforced.

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