Superannuation retirement age shall be 56 years of age.
[Ord. No. 2-1996]
Final salary shall be the average annualized basic compensation
rate, including longevity payments, rank differential, premium pay
as defined in the City's collective bargaining agreement with
the union representing the firefighters, and incentive pay at the
time an application for a benefit is filed with the Board, or the
annual average compensation during the last five years, whichever
is higher. Overtime pay, terminal leave pay, payments for off-duty
schooling or drill or court time, clothing and equipment allowances,
meal allowances, educational incentive payments, acting officer's
pay, bonuses, payments in lieu of dependent's health insurance
costs, severance pay, and other special forms of compensation are
excluded from final salary.
An active member who attains 50 years of age shall be eligible
for an early retirement allowance. The early retirement allowance
shall be a basic superannuation retirement allowance, based upon credited
service at the time of the effective early retirement date, reduced
by 1/3% for each full month by which the early retirement date precedes
his or her 56th birthday.
At or after attaining superannuation retirement age, or the
minimum age required for an early retirement allowance, a vestee may
apply for a superannuation retirement allowance or early retirement
allowance, as the case may be. A vestee will have interest credited
at the same rate as active members.
A member shall not be permitted to repurchase service withdrawn from other municipalities, except that payments which began during service with another municipality pursuant to §
2-709.26 may be completed.
When a member leaves the employment of the City and enters service
as a firefighter of another municipality which enrolls its municipal
firefighters in the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System under
an Article III or IV benefit plan, such member's service credits
will remain unimpaired. However, the City will pay the system any
member contributions made prior to the enrollment in the system that
have not been paid. The unpaid municipal liability for prior service
shall be prorated by the Board between the City and the subsequent
employing municipality on an equitable basis. The member shall be
liable for any debts under the City's plan, but otherwise all
future benefits and obligations shall be according to the benefit
plan of the subsequent employing municipality. Likewise, any member
who, prior to employment as a firefighter of the City, was enrolled
as a municipal firefighter in an Article III or IV benefit plan in
another municipality shall retain his or her service credits. Such
member shall be liable for any debts owed under the prior municipality
plan but shall henceforth be covered by the terms of this chapter.
Unpaid municipal liability will be prorated, and prior service payments
may continue.
[Amended 4-27-2016 by Ord. No. 3-2016]
A. A member who was an employee of the City at the time the City enrolled
in the system may elect, within 90 days of the effective date of entry
into the system, to purchase credit for prior service according to
the rules and regulations of the Board. The City will make the necessary
municipal contributions for such prior service. The member will make
the member contributions.