Membership:
October 9, 2007:
The Board unanimously approved the immediate establishment of a policy which would mandate membership in the Retirement System effective as of the first day of employment (for employees working an average of 20 hours or more per week).
The Needham Retirement Board held to the twenty hour per week minimum requirement for membership.
Crossing Guards:
From the date of Wednesday, November 19, 2003 and forward, Crossing Guards, who do not meet the eligibility requirements of 20 hours or more per week on a regular basis, are not eligible for membership in the Needham Contributory Retirement System. Any Crossing Guard enrolled as of Wednesday, November 19, 2003 may elect to remain a member and seek a retirement benefit, if and when qualified, or request a refund of his/her accumulated deductions and earned interest.
Election Registrars:
From the date of Wednesday, December 18, 2002 forward, appointees to the Board of Registrars are not eligible for the membership in the Needham Contributory Retirement Board based solely on this appointment. Any Registrar enrolled as of Wednesday, December 18, 2002 may elect to remain a member and seek a retirement benefit, if and when qualified, or request a refund of his/her accumulated deductions and earned interest.
KASE Employees:
The Board voted unanimously to grant membership to those school department employees (KASE workers) serving on a full time basis.
Creditable Service:
October 9, 2007:
Former members who resign but leave their money in the System and subsequently are re-hired at less than 20 hours per week are eligible to continue their creditable membership service.
Unused Vacation at Retirement:
The retiree may extend creditable service through the vacation period, or take vacation pay in a lump sum, ending creditable service as of the last day worked.
Waiver of Interest:
When a person buys back time during which was he was eligible but no deductions were taken, the member must also pay back the interest which would have been earned on the account.
Regular Compensation:
October 9, 2007:
Payments for Unused Vacation and Sick Days:
The board voted to continue the practice of excluding pay in lieu of vacation from regular compensation.
Miscellaneous:
September 12, 2008:
Mailings to Membership:
Requests for mailings of information to the membership must be reasonable, made in writing, directly related to retirement board issues, and approved by the Chair of the Needham Retirement Board. The processing and mailing of notices to the membership for any reason shall be done by Needham Retirement Board staff. Upon receipt of approval the requestor must provide:
- The envelopes containing only the approved notice(s) with applicable postage affixed, and
- Payment for the cost of both the labels and the staff time for processing.
The Needham Retirement Board shall establish the cost of staff time in compliance with applicable regulation.
October 9, 2007:
Veterans:
The Board approved that the buyback of military creditable service limit be increased from one to five years. The five year period begins on the date of the letter informing the vet of the cost. If payments are stopped, the person may resume payments up to the five year time limitation. The board voted to keep the five year limitation for military service buybacks.
Military:
The board agreed that the Military Buyback provision of Chapter 116 of the Acts of 2002 should apply to eligible members who only purchased a portion of their service allowed at the first opportunity in 1997 or 1998 as well as to those eligible members who have never previously applied for a buyback. The eligible member must elect to do so within 180 days of the notification and complete the buyback within 5 years of the date of notification.
Research Requests:
Requests for research assistance for payroll record information for buybacks from teachers and non-members must be in writing to the payroll coordinator of the specific unit, since this is not a retirement board function.
Address Verifications:
Re: acceptable proof from retirees who live overseas. The statement will be amended to read under the “pains and penalties of perjury” and will be acceptable if accompanied with current photo identification.
Special Constables:
The Board reviewed their role in the appointment of special constables to the Needham Police Department. It was unanimously decided that it was the Board’s obligation to inform the Police Chief and Board of Selectmen if any of the candidates had retired for Accidental Disability. Although the final decision would rest with the Board of Selectmen, the Retirement Board would strongly suggest denial of appointment to special constable if the medical condition of a retiree would put the Town in an uncertain position.
Earning Restrictions:
If a disabled member of the Needham Retirement System whose earnings exceed the limitations set forth in M.GL. c. 32, sec 91A can demonstrate that a lump-sum payment of said over earnings to the System would result in financial hardship, the Board shall, in its sole discretion, develop a monthly payment schedule to address the disabled member’s financial needs, not to exceed 6 months. If the disabled member elects to utilize said monthly payment schedule, the method of payment shall be by automatically withholding the predetermined amount from the disabled member’s monthly retirement allowance.
Group Classification:
The Needham Retirement Board unanimously approved the reclassification of the position of School Craftsman-Electrician to a group 2 classification because this position requires an electrician license.
Inactive Members:
The Board voted to notify members inactive for over two years, that no more interest accrues, and they can take a refund.
Involuntary Retirement:
The board established a policy that anyone entitled to Section 16B benefits be invited to have a hearing with the Board.
Legal:
The Board approved a motion that all requests for legal opinions be approved by the Board.