Minutes 08/12/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 12, 2014 Financial Impact: • These grant funds require no match. Recommended Action: • Adoption of the ordinance. Vision Principle: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. Next Steps Following Council Action: • Purchase EMS Equipment, supplies and training in support of PFRES operations. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Meeks, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A FOUR FOR LIFE GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $73,208 FROM THE VIRGINIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2014-15 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, RESCUE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES." Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright Nays: None 14 - 296 -Adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapter 30 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006) by amending Section 30-202 thereof pertaining to the re-employment of retired public safety employees. Vision Principle: Efficient, Responsive Government. Background: • Police and fire personnel who retire after 20 years or more of service under the now-closed Portsmouth Fire and Police Retirement System (PFPRS) currently stop receiving retirement benefits under PFPRS if they resume employment in their former departments at a later date. • As a result, a number of those former employees have chosen to seek employment in the Sheriff's Department and in other jurisdictions. Discussion: • The current practice discourages experienced personnel from seeking post- retirement employment with the City and deprives the City of the benefit of their years in service. • Other jurisdictions are benefitting at no cost from the years of training and experience that the City has provided to the retirees. • Under the proposed amendment to the City Code, the retirees will be able to return to City employment while keeping their pensions. • The retirees will re-enter the work force at a much lower pay grade than the one they left. • The re-employed retirees will become members of the Virginia Retirement System program applicable to public safety employees, subject to the vesting and other requirements of that program. • The departments will determine whether a need exists for each re-hire; rehiring of every retiree who wishes to be re-employed by the City is not guaranteed. Financial Impact: • The impact will be positive in that returning retirees will not require the initial police and fire academy training that new hires must undergo. • The positions to be filled are already included in the annual budgets for the police and fire departments. Recommended Action: • Adoption of the Ordinance. Vision Principle: Efficient, Responsive Government.