close

South Strabane approves firefighter pension changes

3 min read
article image -

South Strabane Township supervisors on Tuesday approved changes to the township’s full-time firefighters’ pension plan.

The changes, which went into effect Jan. 1, were awarded by an arbitrator to nine full-time firefighters, township business manager John Stickle said.

According to the arbitrator’s ruling, the firefighters can retire at the age of 55. Previously, they could retire at 65.

Other changes allow firefighters to opt for early retirement after 20 years of service, instead of at the age of 62.

Benefit accrual rate was changed to 1½ percent per year of service, up from 1 percent per year of service.

Previously, the firefighters’ contract included a non-uniform pension plan that resembled secretaries’ and other employees’ pension plans, instead of a traditional firefighters’ pension plan.

That is significant because the physical demands of firefighting make it difficult for many firefighters to work until the age of 65 without incurring work-related injuries.

The township hired three full-time firefighters in 1998, and currently employs nine full-time firemen.

Stickle said the firefighters petitioned for representation by the International Association of Firefighters in September 2013. Before that, the township did not have a contract with the firefighters. Once that petition was approved, the township negotiated with firefighters for seven months, from July 2014 to March 2015.

Firefighters then applied for arbitration.

An arbitration panel was established, and the final pension plan award was made by an arbitrator.

The township operates a combination fire department, which includes paid, full-time firefighters and volunteer firefighters.

In other business, supervisors approved donating $4,000 to Citizens Library for the first quarter of 2016.

The township earmarked $26,800 for the library for 2016, to be paid in quarterly installments of $6,700.

However, the township withheld the final two payments of 2015 and reduced the first contribution for 2016 because of questions some supervisors have regarding the procedure by which the library pays its bills and delays in reporting financial information requested by supervisors to the municipality.

The township has been in discussion with the library’s solicitor to clarify those issues.

The donation was approved by a 3-2 vote at Tuesday’s meeting. Supervisors Jack Keisling, Bob Weber and Tom Moore voted in favor. Laynee Zipko, who had earlier made a motion to donate the entire amount to the library on the condition that it provided information requested by the township, and Ed Mazur opposed the measure.

Supervisors also:

• Approved the purchase of seven microphones that will be used for supervisors meetings and other township meetings, at a cost of $3,999.

• Announced that the township is in the early stages of forming a committee to begin work on the comprehensive plan.

• Discussed the possibility of purchasing an electric sign that would be installed in front of the municipal building. The sign would be used to announce township events and activities.

• Accepted Weber’s resignation from the planning commission.

• Announced that work to install a retaining wall on Cameron Road is expected to be completed in mid-February.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today