Membership:
February 5, 2009
Any individual who is permanently employed twenty (20) of more hours per week by the City of Lowell or any of its departments, the Lowell Housing Authority or the Lowell Regional Transit Authority, shall become a member of the Lowell Retirement System.
Creditable Service:
November 24, 2008
Members of the Lowell Retirement System shall receive creditable service, in whole month increments, consistent with this regulation in the following manner:
- For a member in service who is employed in a full-time capacity, he/she will receive one (1) month of creditable service for each full month for which the employee receives regular compensation and remits the appropriate contributions to the Lowell Retirement System, with said service not to exceed one (1) year of creditable service in any calendar year.
- For a member in service who is employed in a part-time capacity throughout his/her entire career, he/she will receive one (1) month of creditable service for each full month for which the employee receives regular compensation and remits the appropriate contributions to the Lowell Retirement System, with said service not to exceed one (1) year of creditable service in any calendar year.
- For a member who has rendered membership service in the Lowell Retirement System in both a full-time and part-time capacity, the member shall receive full credit for all full-time service and prorated credit for part-time service based on the full-time equivalency of 35 hours per week.
- For a member who is employed in a part-time capacity throughout his/her career but who either purchases past refunded service, or has transferred into the Lowell Retirement System previous service rendered in a full-time capacity, the member’s part-time service shall be prorated based on the full-time equivalency of 35 hours per week.
- In the case of School Department employees whose full-time employment requires them to work from on or about September l to on or about June 30th, including but not limited to cafeteria workers, clerical and secretarial staff, teacher’s assistant and teaching professionals, such as therapists, said employees shall receive one month of creditable service for each full month the employee is receiving regular compensation, with ten (10) months being the equivalent of one (1) year of creditable service. School Department employees who are employed in a part-time capacity shall have their creditable service prorated in the same manner as all members of the Lowell Retirement System as set forth in this regulation.
- The Board recognizes that certain School Department employees, including but not limited to custodians and secretaries, are required to work the entire calendar year, and in such a situation, said employee’s creditable service will be calculated based on a twelve (12) month year.
- Creditable service for 10 month employees shall be based on 1,202.5 hours being the equivalent of 1 year, whereas creditable service for 12 month employees shall be based on 1,827 hours per year.
- Any member purchasing past part-time service rendered shall have said service prorated based on 35 hours per week being considered a full-week of service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any member who works part-time his/her entire career, and purchases past part-time service rendered, will have all creditable service deemed to be full-time. Members may only purchase past part-time or temporary service rendered in member unit of the Lowell Retirement System.
- It is the policy of the Lowell Retirement Board to accept liability pursuant to M.G.L. c. 32, § 3(8)(c) consistent with this regulation for former City of Lowell Employees whose positions were funded through the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (“CETA”) and would have otherwise been eligible for membership in the Lowell Retirement System at the time said service was actually rendered.
Regular Compensation:
Miscellaneous:
October 12, 2016
Correction of Errors under G.L. c. 32 s. 20 (5)(c)(2): In all cases of correction of an underpayment or non-payment of a pension or benefit to a member or beneficiary of the Lowell Retirement System which results in a onetime retroactive payment of benefits, such payment shall include interest for such period of underpayment or non-payment at the rate of three percent (3%) annually pursuant to G.L. c. 32, §22(6).
In all cases of correction of an overpayment of a pension or benefit to a member or beneficiary of the Lowell Retirement System, the amount of overpayment shall be due from the member or beneficiary, along with interest for said period of overpayment at the rate of three percent (3%) annually pursuant to G. L. c. 32, § 22(6).
Pursuant to the judgment of the Supreme Judicial Court in Herrick v. Essex.
The Board will review this in one year.
September 29, 2010
Group Classification
The full time position of Wire Inspector shall be classified in Group 2 as the Inspector must be a licensed electrician and is considered to be performing the duties as such as listed in G.L. c. 32, sec. 3(2)(g).
April 24, 1987
Election Rules
In the event of a recount in the election of the member-representative of the Board, the Board must receive a written request for a recount within five (5) working days after the date of notification to the candidates.