Membership:
June 16, 2011:
Any individual who is permanently employed twenty (20) or more hours per week by the City of Pittsfield or any of its departments, or in any member unit of the Pittsfield Retirement System (“System”) shall become a member of the System. In addition to the foregoing, an individual or elected official must earn at least $5,000 per year in regular compensation to be eligible for membership in the System.
Members shall receive full-time credit for all membership service. Members who wish to purchase and receive credit for non-membership service will be eligible to purchase past non-membership service rendered in any member unit of the Pittsfield Retirement System and will have this service prorated based on 20 hours per week, i.e. 87 hours of service will be the equivalent of one (1) month of service.
Teachers’ aides, cafeteria workers and school crossing guards, who are employed for the school year (40 weeks) shall be granted one year service for each school year completed.
July 20, 1994:
- In order to become a member of the Pittsfield Retirement System, the employee must work twenty (20) hours or more per week on a regular basis.
- Seasonal, temporary or intermittent employees shall not become members of the Pittsfield Retirement System.
- Teachers’ aides, cafeteria workers and school crossing guards, who are employed for the school year (40 weeks) shall be granted one year service for each school year completed.
- If a member’s hours drop below twenty (20) hours per week, retirement deductions shall continue to be withheld in accordance with the Board policy of: "once a member always a member". Credit will be granted proportionately based on a 20-hour workweek.
- Temporary, seasonal and intermittent employees are ineligible for membership, however, upon becoming a member of the System the employee may buy back temporary, seasonal, intermittent time that was at least twenty hours per week.
December 27, 1985:
In order to become a member of the Pittsfield Contributory Retirement System, part-time employees must work twenty (20) or more hours per week. (AMENDED 7/20/94).
Creditable Service:
March 24, 2025
Pittsfield Retirement System members who previously rendered service in another governmental unit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and who were not eligible to participate in the retirement system which has jurisdiction over said governmental unit shall be eligible to purchase such past service rendered in monthly increments, provided that said service was rendered in a temporary, provisional or substitute position, consistent with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 32, § 3(5) and this regulation. Members' Section 3(5) service purchases shall be prorated based on 20 hours per week being the equivalent of a full week of service, i.e. 87 hours of service will be the equivalent of one (1) month of service.
October 8, 2024
Veterans’ Buy-Backs
Upon acceptance, a member may purchase their military service time at any time prior to or up to one year after they vest in the system. Eligible veterans purchasing creditable service for their military service may choose either a lump sum or a five-year payment plan.
June 19, 2003:
Veterans' Buy-Backs:
Upon acceptance, within 180 days of receipt of notification, eligible veterans purchasing creditable service for their military service may begin payment at a time of the member choosing either a lump sum or five-year payment plan with the balance paid in full prior to retirement.
February 6, 2003:
In accepting prior service for current members of the Pittsfield Retirement System, the following provisions will apply:
I. Payment to the system must be made based on the person’s contribution percentage applied to the earnings for the service granted. The board may allow payments over time plus interest.
II. Service
a. Prior service to the City of Pittsfield will be credited as a percentage of the present full-time equivalent of 20 hours per week.
b. Prior service to another system will be credited as a percentage of the full-time equivalent for that system
February 7, 1995:
BUY-BACKS:
Make-up payments for re-deposits of refunds and buy-backs, as authorized by law, shall be made in a lump sum or monthly installments over a period not exceeding five years. Weekly payroll deductions will not be accepted to purchase such service.
Regular Compensation:
Miscellaneous:
June 25, 2024
CREDIT CARD USE
SECTION I. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this regulation is to establish guidelines and procedures for the use of Board issued credit cards for purchases of goods and services, as well as for Board approved educational travel and costs associated therewith.
SECTION II. AUTHORITY:
The Board is adopting this regulation consistent with 840 CMR 15.05.
SECTION III. OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of the credit card regulation is to establish guidelines for the Board to purchase goods and/or services as necessary to administer the retirement system and/or for Board member and staff travel related expenses incurred while attending educational conferences and/or seminars.
Specifically:
- To facilitate a streamlined method of purchasing items thereby reducing paperwork and processing time;
- To eliminate the need for several “store” issued credit cards and to consolidate purchases on one credit card;
- To provide a method of purchasing items via the Internet, thereby taking advantage of more competitive pricing for certain goods; and
- To eliminate the need for Board staff to utilize their own personal funds and/or credit cards to procure goods and/or services for the Board and the retirement system’s effective and efficient operation.
SECTION IV. SCOPE:
The Board will oversee the issuance of the credit cards in accordance with this regulation, and only the Executive Director/Director/Administrator shall be authorized to use the card consistent with this regulation. The overall credit limit for the Board shall not exceed $25,000. Each good and service purchase shall be preceded by a competitive procurement process by which the Board or the Executive Director/Director/Administrator seeks bids/pricing from reputable and established vendors who are in the business of providing the good or service. The process undertaken to procure a good or service that is not otherwise covered by M.G.L. c. 32, § 23B shall be memorialized and become part of the permanent file that is maintained consistent with this regulation, as must any documentation the vendor submits as part of the procurement process.
SECTION V. CREDIT CARD USE:
The credit card is to be used for Board and retirement system purchases only. Use of the credit card for personal purchases or expenses with the intention of reimbursing the Board is strictly prohibited. Cash advances through bank tellers or automated teller machines, obtaining bank or traveler’s checks or electronic cash transfers are strictly prohibited.
The Executive Director/Director/Administrator shall be responsible for purchases within established credit limits and shall maintain a file that is solely for the use of retaining receipts (electronic, paper or otherwise) for each purchase or credit card use. The receipts must be provided to the Board within 10 business days of the monthly statement date. If a receipt for the purchase of a good or service or pertaining to education/travel is not provided, the authorized user must reimburse the Board for the cost of the good, service or education-related expense. The Board shall be responsible for ensuring that any purchases with a Board credit card are consistent with this regulation. The Board shall review the credit card statement monthly at its regularly scheduled meeting to ensure that all credit card use is consistent with this regulation. Purchases for a good or service that exceeds $1,000 requires prior Board approval, or if the purchase is time sensitive, the Chair’s or Vice Chair’s prior approval.
If a return or exchange is required, the Executive Director/Director/Administrator shall verify that proper credit was received from the vendor and submit the appropriate paperwork to the Board for its review at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting. In no case shall the Executive Director/Director/Administrator accept cash in exchange for a returned item.
It is the responsibility of the Executive Director/Director/Administrator to notify the Board, the financial institution that issued the card and the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (“PERAC”) immediately if there is any suspected fraudulent activity on the credit card. It is essential that time frames and documentation requirements established by the credit card issuer be followed to protect the Board’s rights in a dispute.
The credit card bill shall be paid in full and on or before the due date so as not to incur any interest charges.
SECTION VI: COMPLIANCE/CANCELLATION OF CREDIT CARD:
Continued or repeated non-conformance to this regulation will result in the cancellation of the credit card account and such other actions as appropriate.
SECTION VI: EFFECTIVE DATE:
This regulation shall become effective upon PERAC approval.
April 11, 2017:
Correction of Errors
In all cases in which a benefit calculation error occurs that results in an underpayment or non-payment of a pension or benefit to a member or beneficiary, or in the event of any overpayment as the result of an error to a member or beneficiary, the Board shall, consistent with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 32, § 20(5)(c) pay to or collect from the member or beneficiary, as the case may be, the actuarial equivalent of the benefit paid or received in error. Pursuant to the Supreme Judicial Court's decision in Herrick v. Essex Regional Retirement Board, 465 Mass. 801 (2013) and PERAC Memorandum #32/2013, the Board has determined that the actuarial equivalent requires that the interest to be applied will be 3%.
June 4, 1986:
ELECTION RULES:
Election of employee representative to the Retirement Board.
1. Designate an Election Officer.
2. Post the Notice of the Election in three (3) public locations and mail to each retired member.
3. Nomination papers available 90 days prior - must be returned 45 days prior.
4. Official ballot will be printed. Incumbent to be identified.
5. Retired members will be mailed a ballot. Active members may vote at a designated polling place between the hours of 9 A.M. and 7 P.M.
6. The board will notify each candidate of the results of the election within seven days.