Winchester Retirement Board Supplemental Regulations

Regulations accepted by the board and approved by PERAC

Membership:

August 1, 1978:

(a) a “Regular Status” employee who works at least twenty (20) hours per week for at least thirty-two (32) weeks per year shall become members of the retirement system.

(b)    all employees who are employed in a temporary, seasonal, provisional, or intermittent capacity shall not be eligible for membership in the retirement system, unless a shorter period is immediately proceeded by permanent employment.

Creditable Service:

November 17, 2025
Purchase of Prior Membership Creditable Service.
Purchase of Creditable Service for Non-Membership Service.
Purchase of Prior Military Service.
Pursuant to 840 CMR 15.02

1. Purchase of Prior Membership Creditable Service. An active member authorized by law to purchase prior membership service by redepositing a withdrawal of accumulated deductions may purchase such service by paying an amount equal to the accumulated regular deductions withdrawn by the member, together with the appropriate statutorily defined interest.  Payments may be made by lump sum payment or by an installment payment agreement approved by the Board pursuant to Paragraph 5.  A member who does not complete such redeposit and purchase under an installment payment agreement prior to separating from service will be credited with creditable service in proportion to the amount redeposited.
2. Purchase of Non-Membership Creditable Service. Upon submission of documentation satisfactory to the Board, an active member may purchase creditable service for some or all periods of qualifying prior non-membership employment. Payments may be made by lump sum payment or by an installment payment agreement approved by the Board pursuant to Paragraph 5.  The amount of such service granted by the Board shall be calculated pursuant to Paragraph 6.  In the event the member purchases less than all non-membership service, the most recent periods must be purchased first.  A member who does not complete a purchase under an installment payment agreement prior to separating from service will be credited with creditable service in proportion to the amount paid.
3. Purchase of Military Service by Veterans. Active members who qualify as a “Veteran” under the definition set forth in M.G.L. c. 32, § 1 may purchase credit for up to four years of prior qualifying military service, by paying 10% of the member’s salary upon first establishing membership in a retirement system, for each year of military service purchased.  Members who terminated active service by withdrawing their total accumulated deductions and subsequently re-entered active service must pay 10% of the member’s salary upon last establishing membership in a retirement system for each year of military service purchased. Payments may be made by lump sum payment or by an installment payment agreement approved by the Board pursuant to Paragraph 5. A member who does not complete a purchase under an installment payment agreement prior to separating from service will be credited with creditable service in proportion to the amount paid.
4. Multiple Service Purchases. If membership, non-membership and military service are available to be purchased, a member has the option to choose which type of service they wish to purchase, and in which order.

5. Installment Payment Agreements.
   Installment payment agreements approved by the Board for members purchasing prior membership service shall be the length of time of the period of service being purchased, not to exceed five years, and shall have statutory interest applied.

   Installment payment agreements approved by the Board for members purchasing non-membership service shall be the length of time of the period of service being purchased, not to exceed five years, and shall have statutory interest applied.

   Installment payment agreements approved by the Board for members purchasing military service credit shall be two years for every year of service being purchased, not to exceed eight years, and are statutorily exempt from interest.

   Where a member’s documented disability prevents the member from earning, or where a member’s extreme financial hardship is substantiated, the Board may exercise discretion to extend installment payment agreements. Under no circumstance will a member receive credit for service for which a member has not paid the corresponding amount.

6. Service Purchase Calculations.
   Pursuant to G.L. c. 32, §§ 3(5) and 4(2)(c), creditable service for previous non- contributing part-time, provisional, temporary, substitute, temporary provisional, seasonal or intermittent employment rendered to a governmental unit which is subject to the provisions of G.L. c. 32, shall be based upon actual service rendered in the position as it relates to the position’s work week.
   
   May 10, 2011:
   Current members of the Winchester Retirement Board (sic) who are eligible to purchase prior non-membership time earned in any other governmental unit must file a request to purchase such time within 180 days from the date in (sic) which the Application of New Member was submitted.  The Winchester Retirement Board will not allow any prior service buy-backs that have been requested after the 180 days have expired.  The payment of any such buyback must be made in one lump sum payment.  Creditable service shall be granted equal to the period of service multiplied by a fraction, no greater than 1, the numerator of which is the actual hours worked each week divided by the number of hours in a full time position currently being held in the Town of Winchester.
   
   The Winchester Retirement Board will not accept liability for any member whose employment was intermittent, sporadic and limited in nature.
   
   November 29, 2007:
   1. A any part-time employee who qualifies for Membership shall receive one year of creditable service provided that they work the hours required by their position and provided their entire service is on a part-time position.
   2. Subject to verification as specified by the Town any part-time employee who qualifies for membership and becomes full-time shall receive credit for their part-time service on a pro-rated basis as it relates to a full-time position.
   3. Subject to verification as specified by the Town any full-time employee who qualifies or membership who becomes part-time shall receive credit for their part-time service on a pro-rated basis as it relates to a full-time position.

Regular Compensation:

Miscellaneous:

November 18, 2025

Authorization for Use of Board Credit Card
840 CMR 15.05

1. The Winchester Retirement Board must vote to approve the establishment of a credit card account. Only upon such approval would this regulation take effect.
2. The Winchester Retirement Board hereby authorizes the implementation and use of a credit card account from a nationally recognized financial institution or provider (e.g., Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, etc.), issued to and in the name of the Winchester Retirement Board/System, with a maximum credit limit of Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars.
3. Access to, and use of said credit card shall be limited to the Retirement Administrator and the Assistant Administrator. Board members shall not have access to, nor use of said credit card.
4. Subject to procurement requirements, the use of the credit card is authorized for the purchase of Winchester Retirement Board/System-related purchases of goods, supplies, subscription services, conference registrations and travel expenses. The use of said credit card for personal matters, or obtaining cash advances, bank checks, traveler's checks, or electronic cash transfers is prohibited.
5. Credit card statements and supporting receipts for all charges received at the retirement office shall be reviewed, approved, and paid in full on a monthly basis. A check shall be mailed so that payment is received by the due date, so as not to incur interest charges. All payments shall be ratified by the Board.
6. Any unauthorized use, or loss or theft of the credit card, must be reported immediately to the Board and to the financial institution issuing the card.
7. Continued or repeated violations of, and/or non-conformance with this supplemental regulation will result in cancellation of the credit card account and other actions as appropriate.
8. This supplementary regulation shall be reviewed from time to time or when deemed necessary to ensure compliance with 840 CMR 15.05.

February 20, 2014:

Correction of Errors under G.L. c. 32, § 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 Winchester 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 annually determined for such period by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 22(6).

In all cases of a correction of an overpayment of a pension or benefit to a member or beneficiary of the Winchester 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 annually determined by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 22(6).