The Commissioners of the County of York do hereby establish
a County Employees Retirement System for the employees of the County
of York on the first Monday of January 1960 on the one-one-hundred-twentieth
basis or class by virtue of and pursuant to the terms of said Act
of July 8, 1941, Act 136, and the various amendments and supplements
thereto.
[Added 8-4-1960]
An employee, upon reaching the age of 72, shall be permitted
to continue employment until the end of such month in which he reaches
the age of seventy-two (72.)
[Added 4-19-1965]
The County Employees Retirement System provides substantial
benefits upon retirement because of age, disability or service. Members
can also provide for benefits to a beneficiary. The system began January
4, 1960.
A. Administration. The retirement system is administered by a Board
consisting of five members, including the three County Commissioners,
the County Controller and the County Treasurer. The Chairman of the
Board of County Commissioners is the Chairman of the Retirement Board;
the County Controller is the Secretary; and the Treasurer is the County
Treasurer. Three members of the Board constitute a quorum.
B. Eligibility. The elected officials may elect to become members, but
all appointed county employees who are not on a per-diem basis and
whose salary or compensation is paid in regular periodical installments
must be members of the retirement system if the money used to pay
their salaries is county money.
C. Original and new members. Employees of the county in service at the
time the retirement system was established are classed as original
members and receive credit for the years of service to the county
prior to the effective date (January 4, 1960) as well as during membership
thereafter, while those entering the service of the county after the
date of the retirement system are classed as new members and receive
credit for service during membership.
D. Employees' contribution rates. Contributions of the employees
are percentages of their salary determined according to the age at
the nearest birthday at the date of membership in the retirement system.
The rates for the female lives are slightly higher than those for
the male lives because of their greater longevity. The Secretary of
the retirement system has these rates in his file.
E. Source of moneys. Employee contributions plus moneys contributed
by the county and interest on investments provide a retirement reserve
for the payment of annuities.
F. Benefits under County Employees Retirement System.
(1) A retirement allowance is payable under these conditions:
(a)
Superannuation retirement: at any time after age 60.
(b)
Voluntary retirement: at any time after 25 years of service
before age 60.
(c)
Involuntary retirement: after 10 years of service before age
60.
(2) The retirement allowance is based upon age at retirement, length
of service and salary. It is payable for life. Options are available
with a reduction in the pension. Option 1 provides the payment to
the beneficiary of the balance of the reserve value at time of retirement
if the annuitant dies before he has received that much. Option 2 provides
for continuation of the annuity to the beneficiary. Option 3 provides
for the continuation of one-half (1/2) of the annuity to the beneficiary.
(a)
Disability retirement: after five years of service and before
age 60. The amount is 25% of the salary of the five highest years.
(b)
A death benefit is payable after 15 years of service or after
age 60.
(3) Contributions are credited with three and one-half percent (3 1/2%)
interest annually. If service is terminated and the member does not
qualify for retirement benefits, his money, with interest, is refunded.
(4) Any further information may be procured from the County Controller,
who is the Secretary of the retirement fund.
[Added 1-21-1969]
The employees of the York/Adams County Mental Health and Mental
Retardation Board shall be allowed to participate in the York County
Retirement Fund.
[Added 2-16-1977]
Members of the York County Retirement System will be permitted
to initiate a change in their retirement contribution percentage only
at the beginning of a calendar year.
[Added 12-28-1983]
As of January 1, 1983, the York County Commissioners do hereby
elect to contribute on behalf of each active member for current service
the amount of regular member contributions known as "pickup contributions."
[Added 1-5-1983; amended 12-7-1983; 2-22-1984; 12-31-1986; 12-21-1988]
A. In the event that a retiree or office holder regains employment with
the County of York, then such health and life insurance benefits as
provided herein shall be postponed during such employment. Upon final
retirement and termination from the County of York, the health and
life insurance benefits shall be reinstated as provided herein, with
the retiree or retired office holder receiving the highest level of
health and life insurance benefits or plans as he or she was eligible
for as calculated and provided hereinabove.
B. All said costs of medical insurance and life insurance shall be paid
by the County of York.
[Added 9-4-1985
The York County Employees Retirement Board resolves to authorize
the additional option in accordance with Section 15.1 of Act 96 of
1971 for its members effective retroactive to September 1,
1985.
[Added 8-29-1990]
Regardless of whether hired before or after January 1, 1989,
an employee discharged for cause is and shall be thereafter ineligible
for any paid health or life insurance coverage under the York County
Retirement Benefits Program.
[Added 12-19-1990]
The York County Employees Retirement Board resolves to authorize
the members of the retirement system to reduce their contributions
in accordance with Section 7 of Act 96 of 1971, as amended effective
January 2, 1991.
[Added 9-14-1994]
A refund of the employee's accumulated retirement deductions
and contributions shall be withheld, including all accrued interest,
until final conclusion and disposition of any administrative and/or
court proceedings relevant to the employee's termination. Interest
would continue to accrue during the time said action is taking place,
from the time of the employee's termination until the final conclusion
and disposition of any administrative and/or court action. The rate
of interest would be the same rate as is applied in Section 7 of the
Summary Plan Description [currently five and one-half percent (5 1/2%)].