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:
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:
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.