July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
City delays pension decision
Portland City Council
A local board has postponed making a decision about how to pay city retirees.
Members of the Portland City Council voted Tuesday night to wait to make a decision about whether or not to pay long-time police and fire retirees pensions from an account set up for that purpose.
City attorney Bill Hinkle plans to research some procedural issues and advise council members.
City clerk-treasurer Randy Geesaman said Tuesday the city had established a pension fund in 1995 for those who retired prior to 1977, as required by state law.
With interest, the $250,000 placed into the fund at that time has grown to $330,000.
Currently, the 12 police officers and eight firefighters who retired in 1977 or before are being paid through the city's general funds.
Some have since passed away and their widows are receiving the pensions, he said.
The state recently told cities that the pension fund could be used to pay pensions, Geesaman said.
He said this morning that other police officers and firefighters who have retired since 1977 are being paid through a separate pension fund. Geesaman does not know how many people are being paid.
At Tuesday's meeting, Portland Police Chief Bob Sours said he believes city police and fire pension boards must vote on the matter.
Hinkle said he didn't think the pension boards needed to vote on the change, but he would look into it before the next council meeting.
In other business Tuesday, council members voted to transfer funds to pay a contract with an engineering firm and for solar panels that recently were installed on the fire station.
The Schneider Corporation will be paid $35,000 for an apparently unsuccessful effort to obtain federal stimulus funds for repair and maintenance on city streets.
Geesaman today the city is not likely to receive the funding, unless additional federal funds are approved.
The council agreed Monday to move $10,000 from a gasoline fund and $10,000 from a street repairs fund into a contractual services fund.
Also, $12,367.21 will be moved from the fire department's utility fund to the building fund to pay for the new solar panels. Total cost of the panels was $24,734.
Council members also voted to move $5 from the mayor's equipment account to the communications and transportation account. The communications fund has a negative amount.
Also Tuesday, council president Bill Gibson announced that a public hearing on the city's application for a grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for work on the Steen Addition will be held at the Sept. 21 council meeting.
The city is applying for a $600,000 Community Focus Fund grant to separate storm and sanitary sewers in the addition.
The council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Portland Fire Station meeting room, 1616 N. Franklin St.[[In-content Ad]]
Members of the Portland City Council voted Tuesday night to wait to make a decision about whether or not to pay long-time police and fire retirees pensions from an account set up for that purpose.
City attorney Bill Hinkle plans to research some procedural issues and advise council members.
City clerk-treasurer Randy Geesaman said Tuesday the city had established a pension fund in 1995 for those who retired prior to 1977, as required by state law.
With interest, the $250,000 placed into the fund at that time has grown to $330,000.
Currently, the 12 police officers and eight firefighters who retired in 1977 or before are being paid through the city's general funds.
Some have since passed away and their widows are receiving the pensions, he said.
The state recently told cities that the pension fund could be used to pay pensions, Geesaman said.
He said this morning that other police officers and firefighters who have retired since 1977 are being paid through a separate pension fund. Geesaman does not know how many people are being paid.
At Tuesday's meeting, Portland Police Chief Bob Sours said he believes city police and fire pension boards must vote on the matter.
Hinkle said he didn't think the pension boards needed to vote on the change, but he would look into it before the next council meeting.
In other business Tuesday, council members voted to transfer funds to pay a contract with an engineering firm and for solar panels that recently were installed on the fire station.
The Schneider Corporation will be paid $35,000 for an apparently unsuccessful effort to obtain federal stimulus funds for repair and maintenance on city streets.
Geesaman today the city is not likely to receive the funding, unless additional federal funds are approved.
The council agreed Monday to move $10,000 from a gasoline fund and $10,000 from a street repairs fund into a contractual services fund.
Also, $12,367.21 will be moved from the fire department's utility fund to the building fund to pay for the new solar panels. Total cost of the panels was $24,734.
Council members also voted to move $5 from the mayor's equipment account to the communications and transportation account. The communications fund has a negative amount.
Also Tuesday, council president Bill Gibson announced that a public hearing on the city's application for a grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for work on the Steen Addition will be held at the Sept. 21 council meeting.
The city is applying for a $600,000 Community Focus Fund grant to separate storm and sanitary sewers in the addition.
The council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Portland Fire Station meeting room, 1616 N. Franklin St.[[In-content Ad]]
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