Membership:
February 16, 2011:
Any individual permanently employed 20 or more hours per week in any member unit of the Southbridge Retirement System and who is paid a salary of at least $5,000 per year shall be required to become a member of the System. Elected officials who are paid a salary of at least $5,000 per year may elect to become members of the System within 90 days of assuming office. Any individual who established membership prior to July 1, 2010 will continue to be a member in service thereafter irrespective of whether the member’s hours fall below 20 per week. No other individual shall be eligible for membership in the System.
In all cases involving part-time, stipend, provisional, temporary provisional, seasonal, or intermittent employment or service of any employee in any governmental unit [prior to membership], said [member] shall be entitled to buy back said service, provided that (1) said [member] was later appointed to full-time service, (2) said [member] worked at least 20 hours per week, (3) said [member] pays back into the system an amount equal to that which would have been deducted from wages plus interest. The Southbridge Retirement Board shall determine how much service in any calendar year is equivalent to a year of service
Creditable Service:
Creditable service is based on a 12 month year except in the case of contract employees of the public school systems. Any member working less than 12 months per year will have their creditable service pro-rated accordingly. (Number of months on unpaid leave will be deducted from creditable service.)
If a member is employed by the public schools and the member’s contract only requires the member to work 10 months a year, provided the member works the full 10 months, they will be credited with one full year of service.
A member who is employed in a part-time capacity will receive full-time credit for the member’s part-time service if, and only if, the member remains in a part-time capacity for the member’s entire career.
If a member has rendered membership service in both a part-time and full-time capacity, the part-time service will be prorated based on the following Creditable Service policy:
Creditable Service will be based on the average hours worked per week per work year. The following schedule will apply:
| Average hours per week | % creditable service |
|---|---|
| 20-24 average hours per week | 50% creditable service |
| 25-28 average hours per week | 60% creditable service |
| 29-34 average hours per week | 75% creditable service |
| 35 and over average hours per week | 100% creditable service |
Purchase of Prior Eligible Service rendered by a current system member who was not a member of the system at the time of the eligible service will be allowed to buy back creditable service on the following schedule:
| Average hours per week | % creditable service |
|---|---|
| 20-24 average hours per week | 50% creditable service |
| 25-28 average hours per week | 60% creditable service |
| 29-34 average hours per week | 75% creditable service |
| 35 and over average hours per week | 100% creditable service |
Regular Compensation:
Miscellaneous:
November 17, 2023
Military Buyback
A member in service of the Southbridge Retirement System who is eligible to purchase past military service rendered pursuant to M.G.L. c. 32, § 4(1)(h), as amended, may purchase said service in one lump-sum payment or by utilization of an installment plan. Any member who elects to purchase service through the installment plan must complete the payment plan within 5 years of commencing the plan. Any member who does not complete the purchase within 5 years of commencing the plan, shall receive a pro-rated years of creditable service in an amount equal to the payment made.
August 23, 2016
Correction of Errors Regulations c. 32 s. 20(5)(c)(2) Actuarial Equivalent Rate
The Board has adopted the interest rate of 1.5% to be applied to errors, in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 32, Section 20(5)(c)(2).
February 16, 2011:
Election Rules
Election Timetable
- An election for the elected members of the Southbridge Retirement Board must take place at the end of each board member's three‑year term or upon a vacancy caused by resignation or death of an elected member. The notice of election shall be posted 90 days prior to the election
- If the retirement board misses the 90‑day notice period, the board may write to PERAC for approval of a supplementary regulation authorizing the use of a reduced notice period. Upon review of all the facts, PERAC may approve a supplementary regulation, which authorizes a notice period less than 90 days but greater than 45 days. If a term expires in less than 45 days, the elected member shall continue to serve beyond the time of his/her term until a new member is elected
Posting of the Election Notice
- The Southbridge Retirement System shall mail a notice to each member (active, retired, and inactive)
- The election notice must include the date, time and manner of the election, and shall describe nomination and election procedures
Appointment of Election Officer
- The Southbridge Retirement Board shall appoint the Executive Secretary of the retirement board as election officer to coordinate all election activity. Any person who is aggrieved by a determination made by the election officer may appeal to the retirement board
Eligibility to Serve on Retirement Board
- Any active or retired member is eligible to serve as the elected member of the retirement system. Individuals receiving non‑contributory pensions (because their allowance is paid by the community and not the retirement system) or individuals receiving survivor benefits are NOT eligible to run for the position
Nominations
- Any active or retired member may qualify as a candidate by filing with the retirement board nomination papers containing the signatures and addresses of at least twenty (20) members of the retirement system. The retirement board shall verify that those signing the nomination papers are in fact members of the retirement system. Nomination papers must be signed by the candidate
- Any person submitting less than the required number of qualified signatures, shall not be considered a candidate and shall be notified of their failure to qualify. If all candidates fail to meet the nomination requirements prior to the deadline, the nomination period shall remain open until the first Monday following the date the first candidate qualifies
- Nomination papers shall be made available 90 days prior to the election unless a supplementary regulation is approved by PERAC. Completed nomination papers must be submitted no later than 45 days prior to the election
When Only One Candidate Files Nomination Papers
- When only one qualified candidate files nomination papers, said individual shall be declared the winner and an election need not be held. Notice to PERAC of the new or re-elected member must be provided
Election Ballot
- If more than one candidate qualifies, an election ballot must be prepared. The order of the names on the ballot must be determined by a random drawing. The random drawing shall be done by the election officer and will be accomplished by placing the names of qualified candidates into a container and drawing one at a time. The incumbent (if there is one) has the right to be identified as such on the ballot
Conducting the Election
- The Southbridge Retirement Board shall conduct their elections by mail; all active, inactive and retired members shall be mailed a ballot. In addition to the ballot, the election package shall include a return envelope, which contains a space where the voter must sign his or her name to indicate that he/she is a qualified voter. The return envelope will also contain a space for the return address in the upper left‑hand corner. The Southbridge Retirement System shall not provide postage on the return envelope.
- To ensure that voters cannot be identified, the Southbridge Retirement Board shall include a separate inside envelope in which the ballot will be placed. The sealed ballot envelope (which contains no signature) is then placed inside the outer envelope, which the member must sign. Upon receipt of the ballot by the election officer, the outer envelope is used to verify the voter; the outer envelopes will then be sorted between active, retired, and inactive members and then placed in alphabetical order. On election day, the outer envelope will be opened and the sealed ballot envelope will be placed in a ballot box
Counting of Ballots
- Only the election officer (Executive Secretary) or his/her designee shall count ballots. The retirement board shall notify all candidates in advance of the time and place of the ballot tabulation. The candidates or their representatives may be present and may observe the counting process
Disqualified Ballots
- Ballots are considered disqualified if:
- Ballot envelope contains no name
- Ballot is not returned in the envelope provided
- Ballot cannot be verified as being submitted by a member in service or a retiree
- Ballot of member or retiree voting more than once
- Ballot is received after the deadline
- Ballot contains identifying data of the voter
- Ballot contains more than one "X"
- Ballot has been defaced such that the voter's choice of candidate is ambiguous
Election Results
- The retirement board shall notify all candidates of the election results in writing within 7 days after the election. Written notice should be provided even if the candidates were present when the election results were determined
Appeal of Election Results
- Any candidate appealing the election results or any aspect of the election proceedings shall file an appeal with the retirement board within 7 working days
- The Election Officer shall preserve all ballots received by the retirement board for 90 days following the determination of the election results. The Election Officer shall then destroy ballots