Former Greene Co. employees to get annual pension statements
WAYNESBURG – Greene County Retirement Board agreed Thursday to begin sending annual statements to former employees vested in the county retirement plan, after one former employee, Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman, told the board he was not aware he had to “apply” to begin taking benefits at age 60.
Toothman, who said he was speaking in his capacity as a former county employee, said he was “surprised” to learn he had to apply for the benefits, otherwise, “I would lose them.”
Before becoming judge, which is a state position, Toothman had been a county commissioner and county solicitor.
Toothman said because he did not apply for the retirement benefits when he turned 60, he would lose the benefits he would have received from his eligibility date in June 2015 through July of this year when he did make application. He estimated the amount, based on the payments he would have received each month for the 13 months, at $10,726.56.
He asked the board to provide notice to former employees who are vested in the plan that they must apply for the benefits, if they intend to take them, when they become eligible.
The commissioners approved a motion to mail former employees annual retirement account statements that could include notification of their eligibility, something that hasn’t been done in the past.
Controller Dave Balint, who with the county commissioners and Treasurer Cory Grandel from the retirement board, explained later that a former employee vesting in the plan must apply for the benefits when he turns 60 if he intends to take them then. An employee can begin taking the benefits at age 60 or defer taking them until later, he said. The longer an employee defers taking the monthly payments after age 60, the higher the monthly benefit will be, similar to Social Security, he said.
All county employment are notified of the application requirement by the county human resources department when they leave the county and sign documents indicating they understand those conditions, he said. If a person does not notify the county he wishes to apply for the benefits when he reaches eligibility, it is assumed he is deferring taking the benefits until later.
Balint said he also is researching Toothman’s question whether the plan can properly pay him retroactively for benefits from the date he became eligible to the date he made application.
Commissioner Blair Zimmerman said the retirement board also would have to discuss that matter further.
During the commissioners’ meeting, which preceded the retirement board meeting, the commissioners agreed to advertise for the demolition of four closed county bridges. The county hopes a contractor will demolish the bridges for material salvage value alone.
During the salary board meeting, the board hired Richard Blaker as the county’s transportation director to replace Steve Dulaney, who recently resigned the post. Blaker will be paid $42,733.
The board approved a pay increase for casual van drivers in the transportation program from $7.65 to $10 an hour.
Richard Rosendale was hired as a casual tip staff in the court at $9.65 an hour and Kevin Beal was hired as a regular part-time tip staff at $10 an hour. The board accepted the resignation of tip staff John M. Dulaney.
Douglas Berryhill and Taylor Knisely were hired as part-time corrections officers at the prison at $14.02 an hour.
The board accepted the resignation of security officer Lee Kozich; the retirement of maintenance worker Cynthia Reagan; and the resignation of Jeff Wilson, forensic re-entry specialist in human services.