Source: https://www.ecode360.com/12989371
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 19:56:37+00:00

Document:
§ 36-6 Participation in plan.
§ 36-11 Termination of employment.
§ 36-14 Amendment and termination.
§ 36-15 Funding standard requirements.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. II, Police Pension, adopted 5-28-2003 by Ord. No. 594.
As of any given date, the benefit determined under § 36-8B, calculated on the basis of final monthly average salary as of the date of determination and multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the participant's aggregate service determined as of such date and the denominator of which shall be the projected aggregate service of the participant as if the participant continues in employment until attainment of normal retirement age. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall the fraction exceed one. The accrued benefit shall not exceed the maximum limitation, determined as of the date of computation, provided under § 36-8H. All accrued benefits are subject to all applicable limitations, reductions, offsets, and actuarial adjustments provided pursuant to the terms of the Plan prior to the actual payment thereof.
The total amount contributed by any participant to this fund or its predecessor by way of payroll deduction or otherwise, plus interest credited at 2.5% per annum. Interest shall be credited in the form of a compound interest rate from the midpoint of the plan year during which the contributions were paid to the first day of the month preceding the date that a distribution of accumulated contributions under § 36-10E or § 36-11B shall be paid or payment of benefits shall commence.
The Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act which was enacted as Act 205 of 1984, as amended, 53 P.S. § 895.101 et seq.
Two forms of payment of equal actuarial present value on a specified date. The actuarial present value shall be determined by use of the UP-1984 Mortality Table and 7% interest unless otherwise specifically provided herein.
The person, partnership, association or corporation, which at any given time is serving as actuary, provided that such actuary must be an "approved actuary," as defined in the Act.
The total period or periods of the participant's employment with the employer, whether or not interrupted. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, should any such participant receive a distribution of accumulated contributions with respect to a period of employment for which employee contributions are required, such period of employment shall not be included in aggregate service thereafter unless, at the commencement of the next period of employment, the participant repays to the fund the amount of such distribution with interest. For purposes of this definition, interest shall accrue as of the date the employee receives a distribution of accumulated contributions and shall be computed at the same rate and in the same manner as described in the definition of "accumulated contributions." Aggregate service shall be calculated in completed years and months, and shall not include any period of a voluntary leave of absence without pay.
The person or entity designated by the participant to receive a distribution of the participant's accumulated contributions should the participant die prior to becoming entitled to a retirement benefit. In the event that a participant does not designate a beneficiary or the beneficiary does not survive the participant, the beneficiary shall be the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, the issue, per stirpes, or if there is no surviving issue, the estate; but if no personal representative has been appointed, to those persons who would be entitled to the estate under the intestacy laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if the participant had died intestate and a resident of Pennsylvania.
The Borough of Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
The Council of the Borough of Honesdale, and also referred to herein as the "Board."
The person designated by the Borough who has the primary responsibility for the execution of the administrative affairs for the plan.
The Police Pension Committee as determined pursuant to § 36-12B.
The total remuneration of the employee, whether salary or hourly wages, including overtime pay, ranking officer pay, and longevity pay. Compensation shall be limited on an annual basis to the amount specified for government plans pursuant to Code Section 401(a)(17), as adjusted under Code Section 415(d).
The Council of the Borough of Honesdale.
The date when a participant is determined by the Plan Administrator to be incapacitated due to total and permanent disability, or the date when the participant's employment terminates due to such total and permanent disability, if later.
The date on which the participant has completed 20 years of aggregate service with the employer.
The first day of the month coincident with or next following the date on which a participant who has attained early retirement age ceases employment and chooses to commence receipt of retirement benefits prior to the normal retirement date.
Any individual employed by the employer on a regular, full-time basis as a police officer of the employer's police force.
Borough of Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
For the purpose of determining "aggregate service:"
Any period of voluntary or involuntary military service with the armed forces of the United States not to exceed a total of five years which occurred prior to the date on which a participant first became employed as an employee of the employer, provided that the participant shall purchase such credit in accordance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement with the employer and that such participant is not entitled to receive or is receiving retirement benefits for such military service under a retirement system administered and wholly or partially paid for by any other governmental agency except military retirement pay earned by a combination of active and nonactive duty with a reserve or national guard component of the armed forces which is payable upon the attainment of a specified age and period of service under 10 U.S.C. Ch. 67. The purchase price for such service shall be computed by multiplying the average normal cost rate as certified by the Public Employee Retirement Commission and not to exceed 10% times the participant's average annual rate of compensation during the first three years of employment and multiplying the result by the number of years and fractions thereof being purchased. Interest shall be paid at a rate of 4.75% compounded annually from the first date of employment to the date of payment.
Any period of qualified military service as determined under the requirements of Chapter 43 of Title 38, United States Code, provided that the participant returns to employment following such period of qualified military service, and the participant makes payment to the plan in an amount equal to the participant contributions that would otherwise have been paid to the plan during such period of qualified military service. The amount of participant contributions shall be based upon an estimate of the compensation that would have been paid to the participant during such period of qualified military service as determined by the average compensation paid to the participant during the 12 months immediately preceding the period of qualified military service. The amount of participant contributions calculated must be paid into the plan before the end of the period that begins on the date of reemployment and ends on the earlier of the date that ends the period that has a duration of three times the period of qualified military service or the date that is five years after the date of reemployment.
The compensation earned by the participant and paid by the employer averaged over the final 36 months immediately preceding termination of active employment.
Compensation shall exclude for this purpose any single sum or extraordinary payments made which are not directly attributable to active employment during the averaging period, including but not limited to payment of a back-pay damage award and payment of sick leave buyback.
Final monthly average salary shall be calculated by taking into account only those periods during which an employee receives salary, as that term is defined in this definition. Therefore, for example, the final monthly average salary for a participant who receives disability benefits from this plan or who is voluntarily or involuntarily serving in the United States Armed Forces during the final 36 months of aggregate service shall be based on the period during which the employee last received salary (as defined in the preceding subsection) from the employer.
Salary used to determine final monthly average salary shall be limited on an annual basis to the amount specified for government plans in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(17), as adjusted under Code Section 415(d).
A legal reserve life insurance company authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The first day of the month coincident with or next following the date on which the participant retires from employment on which the payment of retirement benefits pursuant to this plan shall commence.
The minimum obligation of the municipality as determined by the actuary pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
The date on which the participant has completed 25 years of aggregate service with the employer and has attained age 50.
The first day of the month coincident with or next following the date on which the participant attains normal retirement age.
A written document prepared in the form specified by the Plan Administrator. If such notice or election is to be provided by the employer or the Plan Administrator, it shall be mailed in a properly addressed envelope, postage prepaid, to the last known address of the person entitled thereto, on or before the last day of the specified notice or election period. If such notice or election is to be provided to the employer or the Plan Administrator, it must be received by the intended recipient on or before the last day of the specified notice or election period.
An employee who has met the eligibility requirements to participate in the plan as provided in § 36-6A and who has not for any reason ceased to be a participant hereunder.
The police pension fund administered under the terms of this plan and which shall include all money, property, investments, policies and contracts standing in the name of the plan.
The plan set forth herein, as amended from time to time and designated as the Borough of Honesdale Police Pension Plan.
The committee or the individual appointed for the purpose of supervising and administering the provisions of the plan. In the event that no such appointment is made, the Plan Administrator shall be the Board.
The twelve-month period beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.
The committee organized pursuant to § 36-12B and as appointed by the Borough Council.
A retirement annuity or retirement income endowment policy (or a combination of both) or any other form of insurance contract or policy which shall be deemed appropriate in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.
January 1, 2015, the date upon which this amendment and restatement of the plan becomes effective.
A condition of physical or mental impairment due to which a participant is unable to perform the usual and customary duties of employment and which is reasonably expected to continue to be permanent for the remainder of the participant's lifetime. For purposes of this definition and § 36-9, a condition shall not be treated as a total and permanent disability unless such condition is a direct result of or occurs in the line of duty of employment. Therefore, an employee whose physical or mental impairment does not occur in the line of duty or which is the result of alcoholism, addiction to narcotics, perpetration of a felonious criminal activity or is willfully self-inflicted is not entitled to receive disability benefits under the plan.
Editor's Note: See Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Eligibility requirements. Each employee who is employed as a regular, full-time permanent member of the police department of the employer shall participate herein as of the date on which such employee's employment first commences or recommences, provided all prerequisites to participation under this plan shall have been fulfilled, including, but not limited to, completion of all forms required by the Plan Administrator. Each employee who was a participant in the plan on the day prior to the restatement date shall continue to be a participant on and after the restatement date subject to the terms and conditions of the plan as set forth herein.
Participation requirements. The Board shall furnish the Plan Administrator with written notification of the appointment of any new full-time permanent employee who is eligible for participation hereunder. Each participant hereunder shall be required to make contributions to the plan, as provided in § 36-7A hereof, and shall execute and complete any enrollment or application forms as required by the Plan Administrator.
Designation of beneficiary. Any new, full-time employee who becomes a participant hereunder shall provide a written notice in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator which designates a beneficiary at the time participation commences. The participant's election of any such beneficiary may be rescinded or changed, without the consent of the beneficiary, at any time, provided the participant provides the written notice of the changed designation to the Plan Administrator in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator. Any designation of a beneficiary made in any manner other than one acceptable to the Plan Administrator shall be null and void and have no effect under the terms of this plan.
Change in status. A participant who remains in the service of the employer but ceases to be an employee eligible for participation hereunder, or ceases or fails to make any contributions which are required as a condition of participation hereunder, shall have no further benefit accruals occur until the individual again qualifies as a participant hereunder eligible to resume such accrual of benefits.
Recordkeeping. The employer shall furnish the Plan Administrator with such information as will aid the Plan Administrator in the administration of the plan. Such information shall include all pertinent data on employees for purposes of determining their eligibility to participate in this plan.
Participant contributions. Each participant shall, as a requirement of participation pay regular contributions to the pension fund in an amount equal to 5% of the participant's compensation. Each participant shall complete the necessary forms to authorize the payment of participant contributions by way of payroll deduction.
Reduction of participant contributions. Notwithstanding the preceding § 36-7A, if an actuarial study performed by the actuary shows that the condition of the pension fund is such that payments into the pension fund by participants may be reduced below the minimum percentage prescribed in Subsection A, or may be eliminated, and that if such payments are reduced or eliminated, contributions by the employer will not be required to keep the pension fund actuarially sound, the employer may, on an annual basis, by ordinance or resolution, reduce or eliminate payments into the pension fund by participants.
Employer contributions. The actuary, in accordance with the Act, shall determine the minimum municipal obligation of the employer. The employer shall pay into the pension fund, by annual appropriations or otherwise, the contributions necessary to satisfy the minimum municipal obligation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall preclude the employer from contributing an amount in excess of the minimum municipal obligation.
State aid. General Municipal Pension System State Aid, or any other amount of state aid received by the employer in accordance with the Act from the commonwealth may be deposited into the pension fund governed by this plan in amounts determined by the Board, and shall be used to reduce the amount of the minimum municipal obligation of the employer.
Gifts. The Board is authorized to take by gift, grant, devise or otherwise any money or property, real or personal, for the benefit of the plan and cause the same to be held as a part of the pension fund. The care, management, investment and disposal of such amounts shall be vested in the Board or its delegate, the Plan Administrator, subject to the direction of the donor and not inconsistent with applicable laws and the terms of the plan.
Employer reversion. At no time shall it be possible for the plan assets to be used for, or diverted to, any purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of the participants and their beneficiaries, including payment of any reasonable plan expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any contributions made by the employer may be returned to the employer if the contribution was made due to a mistake and the contribution is returned within one year of the date on which the discovery of the mistaken payment of the contribution was made or reasonably should have been made or the plan is terminated, as provided in § 36-14.
Normal retirement. Each participant shall be entitled to a normal retirement benefit after retirement on or after the participant has attained normal retirement age.
Normal retirement benefit. Each participant who shall become entitled to a benefit pursuant to § 36-8A shall receive a benefit paid monthly in an amount equal to 50% of the participant's final monthly average salary as determined herein.
Late retirement. A participant may continue in employment beyond the attainment of normal retirement age subject to the employer's rules and regulations regarding retirement age. If a participant who has met the requirements of § 36-8A continues in employment beyond normal retirement age, there shall be no retirement benefits paid until employment ceases and the participant's retirement actually begins. The retirement benefit of a participant who continues employment after attainment of normal retirement age shall be calculated in accordance with § 36-8B on the basis of the final monthly average salary as of such participant's actual retirement and shall commence on the participant's late retirement date.
Early retirement. A participant shall be entitled to an early retirement benefit after retirement on or after attainment of early retirement age.
Early retirement benefit. Each participant who shall become entitled to a benefit pursuant to § 36-8D must make application, in writing, to the Borough Council to receive such a benefit. The early retirement benefit shall become effective as of the date the application is filed with Council or the date designated on the application, whichever is later. The benefit shall be in an amount equal to the actuarial equivalent of the participant's accrued benefit. The actuarial equivalent of the participant's accrued benefit shall be determined by actuarially reducing the accrued benefit to reflect that it will commence on the participant's early retirement date rather than on the date which would have been the participant's normal retirement date if the participant continued in employment to such date. The actuarial assumptions reported in the last actuarial valuation report filed with the Public Employee Retirement Commission under the Act shall be the actuarial assumptions used to calculate the actuarial equivalent of the participant's accrued benefit.
Service increment benefit. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, each participant who shall retire after completing 26 or more years of aggregate service may be entitled to receive a monthly service increment benefit. Such service increment benefit shall only be available to a participant who shall retire on a retirement date after attainment of early or normal retirement age and whose aggregate service for purposes of this subsection shall only include periods of time when the participant actively renders service in employment and shall not include any period of time during which the participant was not in active employment. Such service increment shall be an amount equal to $100 for each completed year of aggregate service in excess of 25 years but shall not exceed $500 for up to five additional years of aggregate service. The service increment benefit shall be paid monthly in addition to the amount of early, normal, or late retirement benefit calculated pursuant to Subsection B, C, or E hereof.
Payment of benefits. Retirement benefit payments shall be payable as of the participant's retirement date and the first day of each month thereafter during the participant's lifetime. A participant must complete an application for benefit in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator and deliver such application to the Plan Administrator at least 30 days prior to the date on which benefit payments shall commence. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no retirement benefit payments nor any other payments shall be due or payable on or before the date that is 30 days after the date the Plan Administrator receives the application for benefits. Payment of benefits hereunder shall cease as of the date of death of the participant.
The cost-of-living increases shall not impair the actuarial soundness of the pension fund.
Effective for distributions with annuity starting dates beginning on or after December 31, 2008, notwithstanding any other plan provisions to the contrary, the applicable mortality table used solely for purpose of adjusting any benefit or limitation under 415(b)(2)(B), (C), or (D) of the Internal Revenue Code as set forth in the applicable maximum benefit limitations section of the plan is the applicable mortality table under Code Section 417(e)(3)(B).
Notwithstanding anything contained in this subsection to the contrary, the limitations, adjustments, and other requirements prescribed in this section shall at all times comply with the provisions of Code Section 415 and the regulations thereunder (as such apply to governmental plans), the terms of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
Over a period beginning not later than the required beginning date and extending over the life of such participant or over the lives of such participant and a designated beneficiary (or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of such participant, or the joint life expectancies of such participant and a designated beneficiary).
If a participant who is entitled to benefits under this plan dies prior to the date when the entire interest has been distributed after distribution of the benefits has begun in accordance with Subsection J(1)(b) above, the remaining portion of such benefit shall be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used under Subsection J(1)(b) as of the date of the death.
If a participant who is entitled to benefits under this plan dies before distribution of the benefit has begun, the entire interest of such employee shall be distributed within five years of the death of such employee, unless the following sentence is applicable. If any portion of the employee's interest is payable to (or for the benefit of) a designated beneficiary, such portion shall be distributed over the life of such designated beneficiary (or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of such beneficiary), and such distributions begin not later than one year after the date of the employee's death or such later date as provided by regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury, then for purposes of the five-year rule set forth in the preceding sentence, the benefit payable to the beneficiary shall be treated as distributed on the date on which such distributions begin. Provided, however, that notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the participant, then the date on which distributions are required to begin shall not be earlier than the date upon which the employee would have attained age 70 1/2 and, further provided, if the surviving spouse dies before the distributions to such spouse begin, this Subsection J(3) shall be applied as if the surviving spouse were the employee.
"Required beginning date" shall mean April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the employee attains age 70 1/2 or the calendar year in which the employee retires.
The phrase "designated beneficiary" shall mean any individual designated by the employee under this plan according to its rules.
Any amount paid to a child shall be treated as if it had been paid to the surviving spouse if such amount will become payable to the surviving spouse upon such child's reaching majority (or other designated event permitted under regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury).
For purposes of this subsection, the life expectancy of an employee and/or the employee's spouse (other than in the case of a life annuity) may be redetermined but not more frequently than annually.
General rules. The requirements of this subsection will take precedence over any inconsistent provisions of the plan. All distributions required under this subsection will be determined and made in accordance with Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder, and the employer's good faith interpretation of such code and regulations.
Assignment. The pension benefit payments prescribed herein shall not be subject to attachment, execution, levy, garnishment or other legal process and shall be payable only to the participant or designated beneficiary and shall not be subject to assignment or transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the qualification of and payment of benefits pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order shall not violate the general rule against assignment or alienation of benefits contained in this subsection. The Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, qualify and pay benefits to an alternate payee under a domestic relations order which meets the requirements of Code Section 414(p).
Notwithstanding any provision of the plan to the contrary that would otherwise limit a distributee's election under this section, a distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator, to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution that is equal to at least $500 paid directly to an eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee in a direct rollover.
A payment by the plan to the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee. Effective January 1, 2008, direct rollovers may be made to a Roth IRA described in Section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent that the applicable requirements of Code Section 408A are satisfied with respect to any direct rollover to such Roth IRA.
Includes an employee or former employee. In addition, the employee's or former employee's surviving spouse and the employee's or former employee's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p), are distributees with regard to the interest of the spouse or former spouse.
A qualified trust described in Code Section 401(a), an individual retirement account described in Code Section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity described in Code Section 408(b), an annuity plan described in Code Section 403(a), an annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b), an eligible plan under Section 457(b) of the Code which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state and which agrees to separately account for amounts transferred into such plan from this plan.
Any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the distributee, except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include: any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the distributee and the distributee's designated beneficiary, or for a specified period of 10 years of more; any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Code Section 401(a)(9); and the portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income (determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation with respect to employer securities). For purposes of the direct rollover provisions in this subsection of the plan, a portion of a distribution shall not fail to be an eligible rollover distribution merely because the portion consists of after-tax employee contributions that are not includible in gross income. However, such portion may be paid only to an individual retirement account or annuity described in Section 408(a) or (b) of the Code, or to a qualified defined contribution plan described in Section 401(a) or 403(a) of the Code [effective for distributions on or after January 1, 2007, any qualified trust or Code Section 403(b) plan] that agrees to separately account for amounts so transferred, including separately accounting for the portion of such distribution which is includible in gross income and the portion of such distribution which is not so includible.
This subsection applies to distributions made on or after January 1, 2010. Notwithstanding any provision of the plan to the contrary that would otherwise limit a nonspouse beneficiary's election under this subsection, a nonspouse beneficiary may elect to have a portion of a plan distribution (that is payable to such nonspouse beneficiary due to a participant's death) paid in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to an individual retirement account described in Code Section 408(a) or to an individual retirement annuity described in Section 408(b) (other than an endowment contract) that has been established for the purposes of receiving the distribution on behalf of such nonspouse beneficiary. For these purposes, a "nonspouse beneficiary" is an individual who is a designated beneficiary [as defined by Section 401(a)(9)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code] of a participant and who is not surviving spouse of such participant.
Retired participants. Any participant who shall have retired prior to the restatement date shall not have the benefit altered in any way by the provisions of this amended and restated plan, except where otherwise expressly provided herein. Such retired participants shall continue to have their benefits governed by the terms of the plan in effect on the day preceding the restatement date. Any participant who shall have terminated employment and elected to receive a deferred retirement benefit under § 36-11C shall have such benefit determined based upon the provisions of the plan in effect as of the date of such termination of employment and shall not have the benefit altered by the provisions of this amended and restated plan.
Limitation of liability. Nothing contained herein shall obligate the employer, the Plan Administrator, any fiduciary or any agent or representative of any of the foregoing, to provide any retirement or other benefit to any participant or beneficiary which cannot be provided from the assets available in the pension fund, whether such benefits are in pay status or otherwise payable under the terms of the plan. The Board retains the right to amend or terminate this plan consistent with applicable law at any time, with or without cause and whether or not such action directly or indirectly results in the suspension, reduction or termination of any benefit payable under the plan or in pay status, and without liability to any person for any such action.
Personal right of participant. The right to receive any benefits under this plan is a personal right of the participant and shall expire upon the death of the participant. No heir, legatee, devisee, beneficiary, assignee or other person claiming by or through a participant shall have any interest in any benefits hereunder unless clearly and expressly so provided by the terms of this plan or the provisions of applicable law. A participant's election, failure to make an election or revocation of an election hereunder shall be final and binding on all persons.
Nonduplication of benefit. To avoid any duplication of benefits, a participant who is receiving a retirement benefit under the plan and who shall resume employment shall have benefit payments suspended until the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date such employment shall cease. Upon resumption of benefit payments, such participant shall receive the greater of the amount of the suspended benefit or the amount of benefit based upon final monthly average salary and aggregate service as of the date that such period of resumed employment shall cease.
Disability retirement. A participant who shall incur a total and permanent disability shall be entitled to a disability retirement benefit as of the disability date.
Disability retirement benefit. A participant who shall be entitled to a disability retirement benefit under § 36-9A shall receive a monthly benefit in an amount equal to 50% of the participant's salary (annualized base pay and longevity pay, determined as a monthly amount) at the time of disablement.
Disability payments shall be made monthly as of the first day of each month, commencing as of the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the participant's disability date and continuing until the earliest of the death of the participant or cessation of total and permanent disability before normal retirement age.
A participant who shall fail to return within three months to employment as an employee of the employer upon cessation of total and permanent disability prior to attainment of normal retirement age shall be deemed to have terminated employment as of the disability date, shall not be entitled to any distribution of accumulated contributions pursuant to § 36-11B to the extent that the total amount of disability payments exceeds the value of the participant's accumulated contributions as of the disability date, and shall not be entitled to any other benefits under the plan on account of any aggregate service as of the disability date.
The Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion determine whether a participant shall have incurred a total and permanent disability. The Plan Administrator shall rely on the report of a physician acceptable to the Plan Administrator.
If the Plan Administrator shall determine that a participant who is totally and permanently disabled has recovered sufficiently to resume active employment as a police officer or if a participant refuses to undergo a medical examination as directed by the Plan Administrator (such a medical examination may not be required more frequently than once in any given twelve-month period), the payment of disability retirement benefits shall cease.
A participant who is receiving payment of disability retirement benefits under this plan must notify the Plan Administrator of any change which may cause a cessation of entitlement to receipt of such benefits hereunder.
If a participant fails to provide immediate notice to the Plan Administrator of any such change in status and continues to receive payment of benefits hereunder to which the participant is not entitled, then the plan may take whatever action is necessary to recover any amount of improperly paid amounts, including legal action or offsetting such amounts against any future payments of retirement or other benefits under the plan, including the costs of such actions.
Death of participant. Upon the occurrence of the death of a participant, there shall be benefits payable in accord with the following subsections of this § 36-10.
Survivor benefit. If a participant shall die after commencement of retirement benefit payments under § 36-8, § 36-9 or § 36-11 hereunder or after the participant is eligible to retire under § 36-8A, C, D or § 36-11C and before retirement benefit payments commence, a survivor benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse or dependent children pursuant to Subsection C in an amount equal to 50% of the amount of the retirement benefit the participant was receiving at the time of death or the amount the participant would have been eligible to receive if retirement or termination of employment occurred on the date of death.
The survivor benefit commences as of the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the date of death of the participant, except in the case where the participant's death (not in the line of duty) occurs before commencement of benefit payments and prior to the participant's normal retirement date. In that case, commencement of survivor benefits shall be deferred to the date that would have been the participant's normal retirement date had employment continued until such date.
The survivor benefit shall be paid monthly to the surviving spouse of the participant, if any, until the date of death of the surviving spouse.
Upon the death of the surviving spouse or if there is no surviving spouse, the survivor benefit shall be paid monthly in equal shares to the surviving dependent children of the deceased participant who have not attained 18 years of age or until attainment of age 23 if attending an accredited college and carrying a minimum of seven credits per semester. The shares payable to the surviving dependent children shall be adjusted as each child ceases to be eligible to receive a share of the benefit hereunder.
Death of participant prior to retirement. If a participant shall die before payment of a benefit has commenced and without eligibility for payment of a survivor benefit under Subsection B, the beneficiary shall be eligible to receive a distribution in an amount equal to the accumulated contributions of the participant as of the date of death of the participant. If the participant has received disability retirement benefits hereunder, the amount of distribution of accumulated contributions shall be reduced by the amount of disability retirement benefits, which have been paid hereunder.
Veterans' Survivor Benefits. Notwithstanding any other provision of the plan to the contrary, in the case of the death of a participant who dies on or after January 1, 2007, while performing qualified military service [as defined in Code Section 414(u)], the survivors of the participant are entitled to any additional benefits under the plan (if any) had the participant resumed and then terminated employment on account of death.
Rights of terminated employees. A participant who shall cease to be an employee except as otherwise hereinbefore provided shall have all interest and rights under this plan limited to those contained in the following subsections of this section.
Distribution of accumulated contributions. A participant whose employment with the employer shall terminate for any reason other than death or total and permanent disability prior to attainment of normal retirement age shall be entitled to receive a distribution of accumulated contributions. Upon receipt of such accumulated contributions, said participant and beneficiary shall not be entitled to any further payments from the plan.
Deferred retirement benefit. A participant who shall have completed at least 12 years of aggregate service and whose employment shall terminate for any reason other than due to death or total and permanent disability prior to attainment of normal retirement age shall be entitled to elect by filing a written notice of the intention to vest with the Plan Administrator within 90 days of the date employment ceases to receive a deferred retirement benefit in lieu of a distribution of accumulated contributions under Subsection B. Such a deferred retirement benefit shall be equal to the participant's accrued benefit as of the date employment terminates and shall commence after application pursuant to § 36-8F and not earlier than the date which would be the participant's normal retirement date under the plan if the participant remained in employment until such date.
Forfeiture. Rights under this plan shall be subject to forfeiture pursuant to the Act of July 8, 1978 (P.L. 752, No. 140), known as the "Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act."
Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall be the Committee or the individual appointed by the Board who shall have the power and authority to do all acts and to execute, acknowledge and deliver all instruments necessary to implement and effectuate the purpose of this plan. The Plan Administrator may delegate authority to act on its behalf to any persons it deems appropriate. If a Plan Administrator is not appointed, the Board shall be the Plan Administrator.
Police Pension Committee. The Board may appoint a Police Pension Committee to administer the affairs of the plan. The Board shall delegate such authority as it shall deem appropriate to the Committee. The Committee, if one is appointed, shall consist of not more than five members. Each member of the Committee shall serve in that capacity until death, resignation, removal or otherwise. Each member may resign by delivering written notice to the Board and other members of the Committee. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the position was originally filled by the Board; provided, however, that the remaining members of the Committee shall have full power to act pending the filling of such vacancies.
Authority and duties of the Plan Administrator.
To select an individual retirement plan provider (either the state or a federally regulated financial institution) and invest funds in connection with the rollover of mandatory distributions as described in § 36-8L.
The Plan Administrator shall have no power to add to, subtract from or modify the terms of the plan or change or add to any benefits provided by the plan, or to waive or fail to apply any requirements of eligibility for benefits under the plan. Further, the Plan Administrator shall have no power to adopt, amend, or terminate the plan, to select or appoint any trustee or to determine or require any contributions to the plan, said powers being exclusively reserved to the Board.
The Committee may organize itself in any manner deemed appropriate to effectuate its purposes hereunder, provided that it shall operate and act by a majority of its members at the time in office either by vote at a meeting or in writing without a meeting.
The Committee shall appoint a Chairman, a Secretary who may, but need not, be a Committee member, and such other agents as it may deem advisable.
The Committee may authorize any one or more of its members to execute any document or documents, including any application, request, certificate, notice, consent, waiver or direction and shall notify the Board, in writing, of each such member so authorized; however, if no such member is so authorized, the Chairman shall be deemed to be so authorized.
Any trustee or other fiduciary appointed hereunder shall accept and be fully protected in relying upon any document executed by the designated members (or the Chairman in the absence of a designation) as representing a valid action by the Committee until the Committee shall file with such fiduciary a written revocation of such designation.
The Committee shall meet at least one time in each plan year, and it shall maintain and keep such records as are necessary for the efficient operation of the plan or as may be required by any applicable law, regulation or ruling and shall provide for the preparation and filing of such forms, reports or documents as may be required to be filed with any governmental agency or department and with the participants or other persons entitled to benefits under the plan.
Plan Administrator costs. The Plan Administrator shall serve without compensation for services unless otherwise agreed by the Board in writing. All reasonable expenses incident to the functioning of the Plan Administrator, including but not limited to fees of accountants, counsel, actuaries and other specialists, and other costs of administering the plan, may be paid from the pension fund upon approval by the Board to the extent permitted under applicable law and not otherwise paid by the employer.
Hold harmless. No member of the Board, the Plan Administrator, nor any other person involved in the administration of the plan (other than any person, bank, firm, or corporation which is independent of the employer and which renders services to the plan for a fee) shall be liable to any person on account of any act or failure to act which is taken or omitted to be taken in good faith in performing their respective duties under the terms of this plan. To the extent permitted by law, the employer shall, and hereby does agree to, indemnify and hold harmless the Plan Administrator and each successor and each of any such individual's heirs, executors and administrators, and the delegates and appointees (other than any person, bank, firm or corporation which is independent of the employer and which renders services to the plan for a fee) from any and all liability and expenses, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred in any action, suit or proceeding to which he is or may be made a party by reason of being or having been a member, delegate or appointee of the Plan Administrator, except in matters involving criminal liability, intentional or willful misconduct. If the employer purchases insurance to cover claims of a nature described above, then there shall be no right of indemnification except to the extent of any deductible amount under the insurance coverage or to the extent of the amount the claims exceed the insured amount.
Approval of benefits. The Plan Administrator shall review and approve or deny any application for retirement benefits within 30 days following receipt thereof or within such longer time as may be necessary under the circumstances. Any denial of an application for retirement benefits shall be in writing and shall specify the reason for such denial.
Appeal procedure. Any person whose application for retirement benefits is denied, who questions the amount of benefit paid, who believes a benefit should have commenced which did not so commence or who has some other claim arising under the plan ("claimant"), shall first seek a resolution of such claim under the procedure hereinafter set forth.
Any claimant shall file a notice of the claim with the Plan Administrator which shall fully describe the nature of the claim. The Plan Administrator shall review the claim and make an initial determination approving or denying the claim.
If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator shall, within 90 days (or such other period as may be established by applicable law) from the time the application is received, mail notice of such denial to the claimant. Such ninety-day period may be extended by the Plan Administrator if special circumstances so require for up to 90 additional days by the Plan Administrator's delivering notice of such extension to the claimant within the first ninety-day period. Any notice hereunder shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and, if a notice of denial, shall set forth the specific plan provisions on which the denial is based, an explanation of additional material or information, if any, necessary to perfect such claim and a statement of why such material or information is necessary, and an explanation of the review procedure.
Upon receipt of notice denying the claim, the claimant shall have the right to request a full and fair review by the Board of the initial determination. Such request for review must be made by notice to the Board within 60 days of receipt of such notice of denial. During such review, the claimant or a duly authorized representative shall have the right to review any pertinent documents and to submit any issues or comments in writing. The Board shall, within 60 days after receipt of the notice requesting such review (or in special circumstances, such as where the Board in its sole discretion holds a hearing, within 120 days of receipt of such notice), submit its decision, in writing, to the person or persons whose claim has been denied. The decision shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties, shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall contain specific references to the pertinent plan provisions on which the decision is based.
Any notice of a claim questioning the amount of a benefit in pay status shall be filed within 90 days following the date of the first payment which would be adjusted if the claim is granted, unless the Plan Administrator allows a later filing for good cause shown.
A claimant who does not submit a notice of a claim or a notice requesting a review of a denial of a claim within the time limitations specified above shall be deemed to have waived such claim or right to review.
Nothing contained herein is intended to abridge any right of a claimant to file and arbitrate a grievance under an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any.
Application of forfeitures. Amounts forfeited by any participant may not be used to increase the benefits which other participants would otherwise receive under the plan; they shall be used only to reduce the employer's contributions to the plan.
Operation of the pension fund.
The Board is hereby authorized to hold and supervise the investment of the assets of the pension fund, subject to the provisions of the laws of the commonwealth and of this plan and any amendment thereto.
The pension fund shall be used to pay benefits as provided in the plan and, to the extent not paid directly by the employer, to pay the expenses of administering the plan pursuant to authorization by the employer.
The employer intends the plan to be permanent and for the exclusive benefit of its employees. It expects to make the contributions to the pension fund required under the plan. The employer shall not be liable in any manner for any insufficiency in the pension fund; benefits are payable only from the pension fund, and only to the extent that there are monies available therein. The pension fund will consist of all funds held by the employer under the plan, including contributions made pursuant to the provisions hereof and the investments, reinvestments and proceeds thereof. The pension fund shall be held, managed, and administered pursuant to the terms of the plan. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the plan, the employer has exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control the pension fund assets. The employer may, however, appoint a trustee, custodian or investment manager, at its sole discretion.
Powers and duties of employer. With respect to the pension fund, the employer shall have the following powers, rights and duties, in addition to those vested in it elsewhere in the plan or by law, unless such duties are delegated.
To retain in cash so much of the pension fund as it deems advisable and to deposit any cash so retained in any bank or similar financial institution (including any such institution which may be appointed to serve as trustee hereunder), without liability for interest thereon.
To invest and reinvest the principal and income of the fund and keep said fund invested, without distinction between principal and income, in securities which are at the time legal investments for fiduciaries in accordance with Chapter 73 of the Pennsylvania Probates Estates and Fiduciaries Investment Code, or as the same may be subsequently modified or amended.
To sell property held in the fund at either public or private sale for cash or on credit at such times as it may deem appropriate; to exchange such property; to grant options for the purchase or exchange thereof.
To consent to and participate in any plan of reorganization, consolidation, merger, extension or other similar plan affecting property held in the fund; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, sale or other action by any corporation pursuant to any such plan.
To exercise all conversion and subscription rights pertaining to property held in the fund.
To exercise all voting rights with respect to property held in the fund and in connection therewith to grant proxies, discretionary or otherwise.
To place money at any time in a deposit bank deemed to be appropriate for the purposes of this plan no matter where situated, including in those cases where a bank has been appointed to serve as trustee hereunder, the savings department of its own commercial bank.
In addition to the foregoing powers, the employer shall also have all of the powers, rights, and privileges conferred upon trustees in accordance with Chapter 73 of the Pennsylvania Probates Estates and Fiduciaries Investment Code, or as the same may be subsequently modified or amended, and the power to do all acts, take all proceedings and execute all rights and privileges, although not specifically mentioned herein, as the employer may deem necessary to administer the pension fund.
To maintain and invest the assets of this plan on a collective and commingled basis with the assets of other pension plans maintained by the employer, provided that the assets of each respective plan shall be accounted for and administered separately.
To invest the assets of the pension fund in any collective commingled trust fund maintained by a bank or trust company, including any bank or trust company which may act as a trustee hereunder. In this connection, the commingling of the assets of this plan with assets of other eligible, participating plans through such a medium is hereby specifically authorized. Any assets of the plan which may be so added to such collective trusts shall be subject to all of the provisions of the applicable declaration of trust, as amended from time to time, which declaration, if required by its terms or by applicable law, is hereby adopted as part of the plan, to the extent of the participation in such collective or commingled trust fund by the plan.
To make any payment or distribution required or advisable to carry out the provisions of the plan, provided that if a trustee is appointed by the employer, such trustee shall make such distribution only at the direction of the employer.
To compromise, contest, arbitrate, enforce or abandon claims and demands with respect to the plan.
To retain any funds or property subject to any dispute without liability for the payment of interest thereon and to decline to make payment or delivery thereof until final adjudication is made by a court of competent jurisdiction.
To pay, and to deduct from and charge against the pension fund, any taxes which may be imposed thereon, whether with respect to the income, property or transfer thereof, or upon or with respect to the interest of any person therein, which the fund is required to pay; to contest, in its discretion, the validity or amount of any tax, assessment, claim or demand which may be levied or made against or in respect of the pension fund, the income, property or transfer thereof, or in any matter or thing connected therewith.
To appoint any persons or firms (including, but not limited to, accountants, investment advisors, counsel, actuaries, physicians, appraisers, consultants, professional plan administrators and other specialists), or otherwise act to secure specialized advice or assistance, as it deems necessary or desirable in connection with the management of the Fund; to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the employer shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon and shall be fully protected in any action or omission taken by it in good faith reliance upon the advice or opinion of such persons or firms, provided such persons or firms were prudently chosen by the employer, taking into account the interests of the participants and beneficiaries and with due regard to the ability of the persons or firms to perform their assigned functions.
To retain the services of one or more persons or firms for the management of (including the power to acquire and dispose of) all or any part of the fund assets, provided that each of such persons or firms is registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, is a bank (as defined in that Act), or is an insurance company qualified to manage, acquire or dispose of pension trust assets under the laws of more than one state; in such event, the employer shall follow the directions of such investment manager or managers with respect to the acquisition and disposition of fund assets, but shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of such investment manager or managers, nor shall it be under any obligation to review or otherwise manage any fund assets which are subject to the management of such investment manager or managers. If the employer appoints a trustee, the trustee shall not be permitted to retain such an investment manager except with the express written consent of the employer.
Common investments. The employer shall not be required to make separate investments for individual participants or to maintain separate investments for each participant's account but may invest contributions and any profits or gains therefrom in common investments.
Compensation and expenses of appointed trustee. If a trustee is appointed, the trustee shall be entitled to such reasonable compensation as shall from time to time be agreed upon by the employer and the trustee, unless such compensation is prohibited by law. Such compensation, and all expenses reasonably incurred by the trustee in carrying out its functions, shall constitute a charge upon the employer or the pension fund, which may be executed at any time after 30 days' written notice to the employer. The employer shall be under no obligation to pay such costs and expenses, and, in the event of its failure to do so, the trustee shall be entitled to pay the same, or to be reimbursed for the payment thereof, from the pension fund.
Periodic accounting. If a trustee is appointed, the pension fund shall be evaluated annually, or at more frequent intervals, by the trustee, and a written accounting rendered as of each fiscal year end of the fund, and as of the effective date of any removal or resignation of the trustee, and such additional dates as requested by the employer, showing the condition of the fund and all receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected by the trustee during the period covered by the accounting, based on fair market values prevailing as of such date.
Value of the pension fund. All determinations as to the value of the assets of the pension fund, and as to the amount of the liabilities thereof, shall be made by the employer or its appointed trustee, whose decisions shall be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto, the participants and beneficiaries and their estates. In making any such determination, the employer or trustee shall be entitled to seek and rely upon the opinion of or any information furnished by brokers, appraisers and other experts, and shall also be entitled to rely upon reports as to sales and quotations, both on security exchanges and otherwise, as contained in newspapers and in financial publications.
That no amendment to the plan which provides for a benefit modification shall be made unless the cost estimate described in § 36-15C has been prepared and presented to the Board in accordance with the Act.
Termination of the plan. The employer shall have the power to terminate this plan in its entirety at any time by an instrument in writing executed in the name of the employer.
Automatic termination of contributions. Subject to the provisions of the Act governing financially distressed municipalities, the liability of the employer to make contributions to the pension fund shall automatically terminate upon liquidation or dissolution of the employer, upon its adjudication as a bankrupt or upon the making of a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors.
In the event of the termination of the plan, all amounts of vested benefits accrued by the affected participants as of the date of such termination, to the extent funded on such date, shall be nonforfeitable hereunder. In the event of termination of the plan, the employer shall direct either that the Plan Administrator continue to hold the vested accrued benefits of participants in the pension fund in accordance with the provisions of the plan (other than those provisions related to forfeitures) without regard to such termination until all funds have been distributed in accordance with the provisions or that the Plan Administrator immediately distribute to each participant an amount equal to the vested accrued benefit to the date.
If there are insufficient assets in the pension fund to provide for all vested accrued benefits as of the date of plan termination, priority shall first be given to the distribution of any amounts attributable to mandatory or voluntary employee contributions before assets are applied to the distribution of any vested benefits attributable to other sources hereunder.
All other assets attributable to the terminated plan shall be distributed and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of applicable law and the terms of any instrument adopted by the employer which effects such termination.
Residual assets. If all liabilities to vested participants and any others entitled to receive a benefit under the terms of the plan have been satisfied and there remain any residual assets in the pension fund, such residual assets remaining shall be returned to the employer insofar as such return does not contravene any provision of law, and any remaining balance, in excess of employer contributions, shall be returned to the commonwealth.
Exclusive benefit rule. In the event of the discontinuance and termination of the plan as provided herein, the employer shall dispose of the pension fund in accordance with the terms of the plan and applicable law; at no time prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities under the plan shall any part of the corpus or income of the pension fund, after deducting any administrative or other expenses properly chargeable to the pension fund, be used for or diverted to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the participants in the plan, their Beneficiaries or their estates.
The plan's actuary shall perform an actuarial valuation at least biennially.
Such biennial actuarial valuation report shall be made as of the beginning of each plan year occurring in an odd-numbered calendar year, beginning with the year 1985.
Such actuarial valuation shall be prepared and certified by an approved actuary, as such term is defined in the Act.
Legitimate travel and education expenses for plan officials; provided, however, that the municipal officials of the employer, in their fiduciary role, shall monitor the services provided to the plan to ensure that the expenses are necessary and reasonable and benefit the plan; and further provided that the Plan Administrator shall document all such expenses item by item and, where necessary, hour by hour.
Duties of Chief Administrative Officer. Such actuarial reports shall be prepared and filed under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer.
The Chief Administrative Officer of the plan shall determine the financial requirements of the plan on the basis of the most recent actuarial report and shall determine the minimum municipal obligation of the employer with respect to funding the plan for any given plan year.
The Chief Administrative Officer shall submit the financial requirements of the plan and the minimum municipal obligation of the employer to the Board annually and shall certify the accuracy of such calculations and their conformance with the Act.
Benefit plan modifications. Prior to the adoption of any benefit plan modification by the employer, the Chief Administrative Officer of the plan shall provide to the Board a cost estimate of the proposed benefit plan modification. Such estimate shall be prepared by an approved actuary, which estimate shall disclose to the Board the impact of the proposed benefit plan modification on the future financial requirements of the plan and the future minimum municipal obligation of the employer with respect to the plan.
Employment rights. No employee of the employer nor anyone else shall have any rights whatsoever against the employer or the Plan Administrator as a result of this plan except those expressly granted hereunder. Participation in this plan shall not give any right to any employee to be retained in the employ of the employer, nor shall it interfere with the right of the employer to discharge any employee and to deal with such employee without regard to the effect such treatment might have upon participation in this plan.
Meaning of certain words. For purposes of this plan, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, in all cases wherever the person or context shall plainly so require. Headings of sections and subsections are inserted only for convenience of reference and are not to be considered in the construction of the plan.
Information to be furnished by the employer. The employer shall furnish to the Plan Administrator (and where applicable, the trustee) information in the employer's possession as the Plan Administrator and the trustee shall require from time to time to perform their duties under the plan.
Severability of provisions. Should any provisions of this plan be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this plan, and the plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal and invalid provisions had never been inserted herein.
Incapacity of participant. If any participant shall be physically or mentally incapable of receiving or acknowledging receipt of any payment of pension benefits hereunder, the Plan Administrator, upon the receipt of satisfactory evidence that such participant is so incapacitated and that another person or institution is maintaining the participant and that no guardian or committee has been appointed for the participant, may provide for such payment of pension benefits hereunder to such person or institution so maintaining the participant, and any such payments so made shall be deemed for every purpose to have been made to such participant.
Pension fund for sole benefit of participants. The income and principal of the pension fund are for the sole use and benefit of the participants covered hereunder and, to the extent permitted by law, shall be free, clear and discharged from and are not to be in any way liable for debts, contracts or agreements now contracted or which may hereafter be contracted and from all claims and liabilities now or hereafter incurred by any participant or beneficiary.
Benefits for a deceased participant. If any benefit shall be payable under the plan to or on behalf of a participant who has died, if the plan provides that the payment of such benefits shall be made to the participant's estate, and if no administration of such participant's estate is pending in the court of proper jurisdiction, then the Plan Administrator, at its sole option, may pay such benefits to the surviving spouse of such deceased participant or, if there is no surviving spouse, to such participant's then living issue, per stirpes; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prevent the Plan Administrator from insisting upon the commencement of estate administration proceedings and the delivery of any such benefits to a duly appointed executor or administrator.
Assets of the fund. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to give any participant or beneficiary any interest in any specific property of the pension fund or any right except to receive such distributions as are expressly provided for under the plan.
Personal liability. Subject to the provisions of the Act and unless otherwise specifically required by other applicable laws, no past, present or future officer or agent of the employer or Plan Administrator shall be personally liable to any participant, beneficiary or other person under any provision of the plan.
Construction of document. This plan may be executed and/or conformed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the commonwealth, excepting such commonwealth's choice of law rules.

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