Source: https://www.ecode360.com/11436626
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 16:21:25+00:00

Document:
§ 43-1 Election to enroll in municipal retirement system.
§ 43-2 Mandatory participation; exceptions.
§ 43-3 Credit for service; liability for unfundedness.
§ 43-4 Payment for obligations.
§ 43-5 Provision of benefits.
§ 43-6 Certification and filing; effective date.
§ 43-11 Eligibility for benefits.
§ 43-13 Options upon termination of service.
§ 43-14 Death benefits prior to retirement.
§ 43-16 Return to service.
§ 43-17 Exemption of benefits.
§ 43-18 Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Fund.
Code Enforcement Officer — See Ch. 15.
Manager — See Ch. 37.
The Council of Moosic Borough hereby elects to enroll their nonuniformed employees in the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, established by the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Law, Act 15 of 1974, as amended, with the express purpose of having the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System administer the pension plan established by the Council for the nonuniformed employees of the Borough. The Borough of Moosic does hereby agree to be bound by all the requirements and provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Law and the amendments thereto and to assume all obligations, financial and otherwise, placed upon member municipalities. All references hereafter shall be based on benefits negotiated between the Board and the municipality.
Membership in the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System shall be mandatory for all permanent nonuniformed employees of the Borough. Membership for elected officials and employees hired on a temporary or seasonal basis is prohibited, as is membership for individuals paid only on a fee basis.
Credit for service toward the annuity of each original member shall begin to accrue upon the effective date of the agreement between the Borough and the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System.
The Borough of Moosic hereby assumes all liability for any unfundedness created due to the acceptance of the benefit structure outlined in the above-referenced agreement.
Payment for any obligation established by the adoption of this article and the agreement between the Board and the Borough of Moosic shall be made by the Borough in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Law and Act 205 of 1984, the Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act.
As part of this article, the Borough agrees that the System shall provide the benefits set forth in the agreement between the Board and the Borough of Moosic, dated December 9, 1986, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Editor's Note: Said agreement is on file in the Borough offices.
A duly certified copy of this article and the referenced agreement shall be filed with the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Board of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Membership for the nonuniformed employees of the Borough of Moosic in the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System shall be effective the first day of January 1987.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. II, Police Pension Plan, adopted 2-10-2004 by Ord. No. 8-2004.
The Retirement System. Pursuant to Article IV of the PMRL, the System shall provide for the administration of this contract for members of the municipality.
The contract. Pursuant to PMRL Section 104 and Section 401, the Board has adopted standard template language which shall be utilized in the drafting of this contract. A duly executed contract shall be the plan document which shall be interpreted consistent with the requirements of the PMRL, the Board-adopted regulations, and the Board-adopted policy statements. In no event shall this contract extend to a member any rights beyond those specifically set forth in the PMRL.
Federal tax qualification. The System is a tax-qualified multiple employer retirement system in which the PMRL permits each municipality to establish and maintain a tax-qualified retirement plan pursuant to IRC Section 401(a). This plan is established by the municipality pursuant to the PMRL and is intended to provide benefits to employees of the municipality and operate as a governmental plan pursuant to IRC Section 414(d).
Definitions. The following terms shall be defined as set forth below, provided that each term defined in the PMRL shall have the meaning set forth therein and shall be interpreted consistent with its definition under the PMRL.
The total amount deducted from the compensation of the member as set forth in this contract and paid over by the municipality or paid by the member or from any existing pension or retirement System directly into the Fund and credited to the member's account, together with regular interest thereon, unless interest is specifically excluded in this contract.
A member who is earning credited service under this contract as a result of employment with a municipality.
A firm, partnership or corporation of which one or more members meets the requirements of Subsection A(1) or (2) above.
The member's accrued retirement benefit as calculated pursuant to § 43-12A.
The person or persons last designated, in writing, to the Board by a member or an annuitant, or if one is not so designated, the estate or next of kin under 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 3101 (relating to payments to family and funeral directors), to the extent applicable, to receive any death benefit after the death of such member or annuitant.
Remuneration actually received for services rendered as a member, including salary, overtime, longevity and educational incentive payments, but excluding reimbursement for expenses incidental to employment. Payments received under the Act of June 2, 1915 (P.L. 736, No. 338), known as the "Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act" shall not be included in compensation. Compensation shall be adjusted, as appropriate, to comply with the terms of the PMRL and this contract. For members who are enrolled in a plan that has adopted the provisions of IRC Section 414(h), compensation shall also include any such pickup contributions so designated. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, a member's compensation shall not exceed the limitations under the IRC Section 401(a)(17), as adjusted in accordance with IRC Section 401(a)(17)(B). The adjustment in effect for a calendar year applies to any period, not exceeding 12 months, over which compensation is determined (the "determination period") beginning in such calendar year. If a determination period consists of fewer than 12 months, the compensation limit will be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the determination period, and the denominator of which is 12. The OBRA '93 annual compensation limit is $150,000, as adjusted by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for increases in the cost of living in accordance with IRC Section 401(a)(17)(B). Effective for calendar years beginning on and after January 1, 2002, the compensation limit shall be $170,000, as adjusted. Effective for calendar years beginning on and after January 1, 2003, compensation limit shall be $200,000. The cost-of-living adjustment in effect for a calendar year applied to any period, not exceeding 12 months, over which compensation is determined (the "determination period") beginning in such calendar year. If a determination period consists of fewer than 12 months, the compensation limit will be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the determination period, and the denominator of which is 12.
The agreement between the Board and the municipality providing for retirement benefits to the members employed by the municipality.
An increment of service by a member to a municipality as determined under the terms of § 43-10A.
For an active member, the last day of employment in a status covered by the eligibility requirements of the contract. For an inactive member, the date on which formal action is taken by the municipality to separate the member from employment.
The Deferred Retirement Option Plan adopted by the Board and set forth in Appendix A to this contract, if one is so attached.
An annuitant who has elected to participate in the DROP as may be provided under § 43-13B(2).
The member's basic benefit, adjusted for commencement upon early retirement, as may be provided under § 43-11B.
For a DROP participant, the day before the effective date of DROP participation as determined in accordance with Appendix A to this contract, if one is so attached.
The average annual compensation earned and paid during the member's final three years of credited service or if not so long employed, then the average annual compensation earned and paid during the whole period of such employment.
A member who is enrolled in the System but is no longer earning credited service under this contract as a result of separation from or leave from employment with a municipality.
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as designated and referred to in the Federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-514), as amended. A reference to "IRC Section _____" shall be deemed to refer to the identically numbered section and subsection or other subdivision of such section in 26 U.S.C. (relating to Internal Revenue Code), as such identically numbered section may be amended.
A municipal police officer, who meets the eligibility requirements in § 43-9A or B and who holds a full-time position in the Police Department of the municipality and who works for a stated salary.
The account maintained for the municipality, to which shall be credited the contributions made by it toward the benefits of the members under the System.
A member who was employed by the municipality as of the date the municipality joined the System.
53 P.S. § 881.101 et seq. A reference to "PMRL Section_____" shall be deemed to refer to the identically numbered subsection of 53 P.S. § 881, as may be amended.
See "Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Law."
A statement of rule adopted by the Board as provided in § 43-19C and as authorized by PMRL Section 104(10).
All service as an original member completed at the time the municipality elected to join the System.
Total and permanent disability of a member resulting from a condition arising out of and incurred in the course of employment, and which is compensable under the applicable provisions of the Act of June 2, 1915 (P.L. 736, No. 338), known as the "Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act," or the act of June 21, 1939 (P.L. 566, No. 284), known as the "Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act."
The age set forth in § 43-11A.
The Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, a multiple-employer retirement system created pursuant to the PMRL.
The account to which shall be credited the contributions made by the municipality toward the disability retirement of members.
The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 101-353, 38 U.S.C. §§ 4303 et seq.).
A member after a stipulated age or with sufficient years of service, or both, as set forth in § 43-11C, who has terminated service with the municipality and has elected to leave total accumulated deductions in the Fund and to defer receipt of a basic benefit, provided the election is made within 90 days after the date of termination of service.
Statutory authority. The aforementioned definitions shall be interpreted consistent with the PMRL, Board-adopted regulations, and Board-adopted policy statements.
Mandatory membership. Membership for full-time police officers of the municipality is mandatory.
Prohibited membership. Membership for elected officials, part-time employees, seasonal employees, and temporary employees is prohibited, as is membership for individuals paid only on a fee basis.
The member's date of enrollment in the System shall be the date the municipality entered into the System or the member's date of hire, whichever is more recent.
Prior service. An original member shall be granted credited service for prior service from the date of hire.
Purchase of service. If a former member of the municipality returns to service with the municipality and becomes a member, the member may restore to the Fund the amounts refunded under § 43-13A. The member's annuity rights shall be restored as they existed at the time of separation from service, provided the member pays the amount due plus regular interest up to the date of purchase in a lump sum within 30 days after billing, or through salary deductions amortized with regular interest through a repayment period of not more than five years.
Any member who enters the uniformed services as defined by USERRA, and returns to service as a member within the authorized time period of the law, shall have the authorized time spent in such service credited to the member's employment record for pension or retirement benefits if the member makes the required member contributions.
The amount due from the member shall be certified by the System. It may be paid in a lump sum within 30 days or it may be amortized with additional interest through salary deductions in amounts agreed upon by the member and the Board.
An active member may purchase credit for other than intervening military service performed for the United States in times of war, armed conflict or national emergency, so proclaimed by the President of the United States, for a period not to exceed five years, provided the member has completed five years of service to the municipality subsequent to such military service. An active member may file an application with the Board for permission to purchase credit for nonintervening military service upon completion of five years of subsequent service to the municipality.
Benefit accrual. For benefit accrual purposes, the System will treat an individual who dies or becomes disabled (as determined by the System) while performing qualified military service with respect to the member as if the member had resumed employment in accordance with the member's reemployment rights under USERRA on the day preceding death or disability (as the case may be) and terminated employment on the actual date of death or disability.
If service with the municipality is less than such twelve-month period, the actual length of continuous service with the municipality.
Portability. When a member leaves the employ of the municipality and enters within one year of separation into the employ of another municipality that has joined the System, the member's service credits shall remain unimpaired. Should a member from the employ of another municipality that has joined the System separate from service and within one year of separation be employed by the municipality and qualify for membership under this contract, the member's service credits will remain unimpaired. In such cases, the municipal liability for past service shall be prorated by the System between the municipalities on an equitable basis.
Eligibility for superannuation retirement benefit. A member shall be eligible for a superannuation retirement benefit upon attainment of superannuation retirement age, which shall be 55 years of age, provided the member has completed 12 years of credited service.
Eligibility for early retirement benefit.
A member who voluntarily terminates service after 24 years of credited service may apply for an early retirement benefit.
A member whose service is involuntarily terminated after eight years of credited service may apply for an early retirement benefit.
The early retirement benefit will be actuarially reduced for each year or partial year thereof prior to superannuation retirement age that early retirement takes place.
Eligibility for a vested benefit.
A member shall vest upon the completion of 12 years of credited service, provided the member files an application to vest with the Board within 90 days of the member's date of termination of service.
A vested member shall be entitled to a superannuation retirement benefit upon attainment of superannuation retirement age.
In the event that a member fails to file within 90 days of the member's date of termination of service, the member shall be deemed ineligible for a vested benefit. The amount payable to the member shall be determined in accordance with § 43-13A.
Basic benefit. The annual basic benefit shall be calculated by multiplying the member's final salary by all years of credited service and multiplied by the benefit accrual rate of 2.00%; provided, however, that in no event shall the annual basic benefit exceed 50% of the member's final salary.
Excess interest benefit. An annual excess interest benefit shall be equal to a single life annuity starting on the effective date of retirement with a present value equal to the member's excess investment account.
Service increment. In addition to the basic benefit, an annuitant who has 26 or more years of credited service shall receive a yearly service increment to be determined by computing the number of whole years of credited service beyond 25 years and multiplying this number by an amount equal to 2.5% the basic benefit. This increment shall not, however, exceed $100 per month.
The basic benefit, including any service increment, after such adjustment, shall not exceed 130% of what the basic benefit, including any service increment, was as of the effective date of retirement.
General limitation. Except as otherwise provided in this contract, the annual retirement benefit payable to any member shall not exceed the maximum permissible amount for the System year pursuant to IRC Section 415(b).
If a benefit is to be distributed in a form other than a single or straight life annuity or joint and survivor annuity (including any death benefit payable as a survivor's annuity), the actuarial equivalent [as determined pursuant to IRC Section 415(b)(2)(B)] of a single life annuity of such benefit must satisfy the limitations set forth in this section. Further adjustments may be made by the Board, as permitted by IRC Section 415 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, under the appropriate circumstances, including, if authorized by the Board, receipt by the System of rollover contributions or assets or liabilities transferred from another qualified plan.
In the event that a member's benefit is to be distributed prior to age 62, the currently effective dollar amount in Subsection E(1) of this section shall be actuarially reduced to the actuarial equivalent [as determined pursuant to IRC Section 415(b)(2)(C)] of an annual benefit equal to the dollar amount commencing at age 62 in the manner as prescribed by IRC Section 415.
In the event that a member's benefit is to be distributed after age 65, the currently effective dollar amount in Subsection E(1) of this section shall be actuarially increased to the actuarial equivalent [as determined pursuant to IRC Section 415(b)(2)(D)] of an annual benefit equal to such dollar amount commencing at age 65 in the manner as prescribed by IRC Section 415.
With regard to any member identified in IRC Section 415(b)(2)(H), this subsection shall not serve to reduce the limitation set forth in Subsection E(1).
This section shall be interpreted consistent with the limitations or annual benefits set forth under IRC Section 415(b) and Treasury regulations thereunder as applicable to governmental plans under IRC Section 414(d).
Social security offset. There shall be no offset for social security retirement benefits received by a member.
Refund. A member who terminates service may elect to receive the accumulated deductions and the member's excess investment account standing to the credit of the member as of the date of termination of service in lieu of receipt of a benefit provided under § 43-12.
Upon attainment of eligibility to receive a superannuation retirement benefit or eligibility to elect an early retirement benefit, a member separating from service may elect to receive the benefits provided in § 43-12. Such benefits shall be calculated in accordance with § 43-12 and shall be paid throughout the member's life.
A member who has elected a single life annuity shall automatically be deemed to have elected the spouse's death benefit found in § 43-14C.
In a lump-sum payment and an annuity. Such annuity shall be of equivalent actuarial value to the balance payable, less the amount of the lump-sum payment specified by the beneficiary.
Option 3: Upon the annuitant's death, 1/2 of the joint and survivor annuity shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to the survivor annuitant, if then living.
Required minimum distribution. In no event may a member or beneficiary be entitled to a form of payment which commences or is payable over a period which fails to satisfy the required distribution provisions of IRC Section 401(a)(9), including the incidental benefit distribution requirements. The Board shall adopt procedures, as necessary, to comply with IRC Section 401(a)(9) and Treasury regulations thereunder as applicable to governmental plans.
Direct rollover. Notwithstanding any other provision, a member, a member's surviving spouse or a member's former spouse who is an alternate payee under an approved domestic relations order pursuant to § 43-17B may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Board, to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan utilizing a direct rollover.
General rule. A member may, upon application or on application of one acting on the member's behalf, or upon application of a responsible official of the municipality, be retired by the Board on a disability retirement if the medical examiner designated by the Board following a review of the application and any supporting medical records and other documentation submitted with the application certifies to the Board that the member is unable to engage in any gainful employment and that said member ought to be retired.
Once every year, the Board may require a medical review of subsequent medical documentation of the disability annuitant, while still under superannuation retirement age, by the medical examiner designated by the Board. Should the medical examiner recommend to the Board that such disability annuitant is no longer physically or mentally incapacitated and is able to engage in a gainful occupation, then the portion of the annuity funded from the total disability reserve account shall be discontinued.
Should a disability annuitant, while under superannuation retirement age, refuse to submit to at least one medical review in any year, the disability retirement shall be discontinued until the withdrawal of such refusal, and should such refusal continue for one year, then all rights in and to any disability retirement or for early involuntary retirement, as may be provided under the contract, shall be forfeited.
Should a disability annuitant die before the amount payable under this section equals the amount of accumulated deductions plus the balance in the member's excess investment account as of the effective date of disability retirement, the Board shall pay to the beneficiary (if living, or if the beneficiary predeceased the disability annuitant, or no beneficiary was named, then to the disability annuitant's estate) an amount equal to the difference between such amounts paid under this section and the accumulated deductions and the balance in the member's excess investment account. If such difference is less than $100 and no letters have been taken out on the estate within six months after the disability annuitant's death, such difference may be paid to the undertaker or to any person or municipality who or which shall have paid the claim of the undertaker.
When the disability of a member is determined to be a service-connected disability, no minimum period of credited service shall be required for eligibility to receive a disability retirement.
When the disability of a member is determined to be non-service-connected, the member shall be eligible to apply for a disability retirement if the member has completed 10 years of credited service.
A member with eight or more years of credited service eligible for a disability retirement may, in lieu of a disability retirement, elect to retire not voluntarily under the provisions of § 43-11.
The portion of the disability annuity funded from the total disability reserve account shall be reduced by the amount of any payments for which the disability annuitant shall be eligible under the Act of June 2, 1915 (P.L. 736, No. 338), known as "Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act," or the Act of June 21, 1939 (P.L. 566, No. 284), known as "Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act."
Eligibility. An active member or vested member who has met the eligibility requirements for a superannuation retirement benefit found in § 43-11A or met the eligibility requirements for a voluntary early retirement benefit found in § 43-11B(1) may file a written application for retirement requesting that such retirement become effective at the time of death.
Elections. When filing an application under this section one of the options provided in § 43-13B may be elected. The application shall be held by the Board until a later application for a retirement is filed or the death of the active member or vested member prior to the effective date of retirement.
If an active member or vested member dies before becoming eligible for any benefits under this contract, the balance of the member's account shall be paid to the beneficiary.
If an active member or vested member meets the eligibility requirements of Subsection A and files an application under this section this benefits shall become effective as if such active member or vested member had retired on the day immediately preceding death in accordance with the annuity option elected in the application.
If an option was not filed with the Board under this section, the surviving spouse (or in the absence of a spouse, any surviving children under the age of 18, or if attending college, under or attaining the age of 23) will receive a pension equal to 1/2 of the pension which such active member or vested member would have been eligible to receive if the individual had been retired at the time of death.
If an option was not filed with the Board under this section and there is no surviving spouse or children eligible for the benefit, the balance of the member's account on the date of death shall be paid to the beneficiary.
The Board will actuarially determine the normal cost of the benefits provided in this contract and any liability associated with the actuarial experience of such benefits which shall be contributed annually by the municipality. The Board shall determine and the municipality shall be charged an additional amount to be contributed annually toward a reserve account for any disability benefit which may be payable under this contract.
Members shall contribute 5% of their compensation.
If sufficient funds exist, the municipality may annually elect to lower or waive the required member contribution rate by adopting a resolution and filing it with the Board.
Contributions shall be deducted from payroll and transmitted to the System by the municipality in accordance with the Board's policy regarding the treatment of member contributions.
If an annuitant, other than a disability annuitant, returns to service with the same municipality, the annuity shall cease, and in the case of an annuity, other than a disability annuity, the present value of such annuity shall be frozen as of the date such annuity ceases.
The above notwithstanding, if the annuitant is otherwise eligible to receive an in-service distribution of the annuity due to attainment of normal retirement age as defined in the IRC, operation of IRC Section 401(a)(36), or operation of any other provision as may be adopted by the Board and consistent with the tax-qualification provisions of the IRC, the annuity shall continue to be paid through the period of such reemployment, but the annuitant shall not be enrolled as a member or receive credited service during any period of an in-service distribution.
The municipality is required to notify the Board immediately of the reemployment status of any annuitant.
Former members other than annuitants.
If a former member of the municipality returns to service with the municipality and becomes a member, the member may restore to the Fund the amounts refunded under § 43-13A that represent that member's previous service, and continue accruing credited service for service rendered subsequent to the return to service.
General. The basic benefit, accumulated deductions and the moneys in the Fund shall be exempt from any state or municipal tax and shall be unassignable except to a beneficiary.
Domestic relation orders. Rights under this contract shall be subject to attachment in favor of an alternate payee as set forth in an approved domestic relations order.
Rights under this contract shall be subject to forfeiture as required under the act of July 8, 1978 (P.L. 752, No. 140), known as the "Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act." Forfeitures under this subsection or under any other provision of law may not be applied to increase the benefits that any member would otherwise receive under this act.
In the event a member is convicted of, or pleads guilty or no defense to, a forfeitable crime, the member will be entitled to receive the retirement contributions the member made, without regular interest or excess interest, unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders the member's contributions to be paid as restitution to the municipality.
All service and benefits forfeited by operation of the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act shall be ineligible for retirement coverage should the member later gain public employment and qualify for membership in the System, regardless of the employing municipality.
General. The Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Fund shall consist of contributions by municipalities from payroll deductions, from other contributions made by members through the employing municipality to the System, transfers made from municipal retirement or pension systems and investment earnings.
Separate accounts. The Board shall keep separate accounts for each municipality, except the total disability reserve account and the retired member's reserve account which shall be maintained as pooled accounts. The municipality and the members shall be liable to the Board for the amount of contributions required to cover the cost of the basic benefit and other benefits payable to such members.
Disability. Upon the granting of a disability retirement, there shall be transferred to the retired member's reserve account the amount of the disability annuitant's member's account, together with an amount from the municipal account to equal the amount of the equivalent actuarial value of the basic benefit, and such additional amount from the total disability reserve account as may be needed to provide the actuarial equivalent of the disability retirement to which the disability annuitant is entitled.
Basic benefit. Upon the granting of a basic benefit, there shall be transferred to the retired member's reserve account the amount of the member's account, plus an amount from the municipal account, such that the sum will equal the equivalent actuarial value to the annuity provided in § 43-13B(1).
Municipal liability. The regular interest charges payable and the creation and maintenance of the necessary reserves for the payment of the benefits, as to the municipality and its members, are hereby made the obligation of the municipality in accordance with PMRL Section 111 and shall not otherwise attach to those assets of the Fund attributable to any other municipality and its members.
Custody of the Fund. All moneys and securities in the Fund shall be placed in the custody of the State Treasurer as is required by PMRL Section 109.
Management and investment of the Fund. The members of the Board shall be trustees of the Fund, and shall have the exclusive management of said Fund, with full power to invest the moneys therein, subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions imposed by law upon fiduciaries. The Board shall have power to hold, purchase, sell, assign, transfer and dispose of any securities and investments in said Fund, as well as the proceeds of such investments, and of the money belonging to such Fund.
Allocation of regular interest. The Board shall annually allocate regular interest to the credit of each member's account, municipal account, and the retired member's reserve account.
The Board may, after deducting money to pay for regular interest and any appropriate expenses of the System, award excess interest to the municipality in accordance with Board adopted policy.
Notwithstanding any other provision, excess interest shall not be allocated to the member's accounts and/or retired members' reserve account if the municipality's funding status in relation to the benefit structure set forth under this contract is less than 95% funded as of the most recent actuarial report filed pursuant to the Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act, 53 P.S. § 895.101 et seq.
Limits on benefit structure. This contract shall not provide benefits in excess of or provide for member contribution rates less than those available to the municipality's class of employees covered by this contract under existing law, including laws applicable to the establishment of pension plans.
Pursuant to PMRL Section 104(5), the Board has authority to adopt policy statements, as necessary, to administer the System and establish rules regarding the operation of the System. Policy statements shall remain in full force and effect until superseded or otherwise revoked by the Board.
Any policy statement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference, regardless of its adoption date, and shall be binding on the municipality to the extent applicable.
Any policy statement may be retitled, amended, or supplemented from time to time by written notice to the municipality.
The Board shall provide written notice to the municipality within 90 days of enactment of any new policy statement.
The Board and the municipality shall have authority at any time to amend this contract. No amendment or modification of this contract shall have any force or effect unless it is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
Have the effect of decreasing a member's benefit accrued under the System.
Benefit improvements shall be determined on a total-plan basis and not on a benefit-by-benefit comparison or on an individual-by-individual comparison.
If a member and/or municipality believes that a right or benefit under this contract has been improperly denied, a written request for a final determination must be filed with the System.
If the member and/or municipality disagrees with the final determination reached by the System, the member and/or the municipality has the right to file an appeal and request an administrative hearing before the Board. See 1 Pa. Code §§ 31.11, 31.15, 33.31, 33.34, and 35.20. The appeal and request for an administrative hearing must include a statement of the facts that forms the basis of the requested relief and all points of law that support the claim.
If the appeal and request for an administrative hearing is not received by the Board within the thirty-day period, the member and/or municipality will no longer have the right to administratively appeal the denial of its request to the Board.
The municipality has been enrolled in the System for a period of at least five years.
The municipality has met all of its financial obligations to the System.
The municipality has passed an ordinance signifying its intention to withdraw from the System.
The municipality has certified to the Board that an affirmative vote approving withdrawal from the System had been obtained from at least 75% of all active members, inactive members, vested members, annuitants, and survivor annuitants.
The municipality has acknowledged its responsibility to assume and provide for all future benefit payments to the existing active members, inactive members, vested members, annuitants, survivor annuitants, and their beneficiaries effective upon the withdrawal.
The application has specified a date for the withdrawal to become effective, provided if there are annuitants and/or survivor annuitants in active pay status, the effective date is the first day of a month no earlier than the month after which the Board is scheduled to take action on the withdrawal application.
In the event that the municipality elects to terminate its participation in the System, a member's basic benefit under this contract shall be immediately vested to the extent funded as of the effective date of the withdrawal.
In the event the municipality withdraws from the System, the municipality shall only be entitled to the assets credited to the municipal account and the members' accounts in accordance with the provisions of the PMRL and policy statements. Assets that are actuarially determined by the Board's actuary to be matched to the municipality's annuitants and survivor annuitants will also be returned to the municipality in accordance with the PMRL and policy statements.
Receipt. Any filing, election or notice required to be made under this contract or the PMRL by a member must be made by written statement, duly attested, and filed in the office of the Board or deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the Board.
In the event the System receives an application for a benefit from a member in which certification by the municipality with regard to the data used to calculate such benefit is needed but such certification has not been made by the municipality, the System shall issue a formal demand to the municipality for such certification of the necessary data.
Any certification required to be made by the municipality with regard to any application for benefits by a member under this contract shall be made by the municipality within 45 days following the date of the System's formal demand.
Failure of the municipality to provide such requested certification within the forty-five-day period shall result in the System utilizing the most current reliable data maintained by the System for the member.
Effective date. This contract shall be effective the first day of October 2013.
Entire agreement. Except as hereinabove expressly provided, this contract supersedes all prior contracts and undertakings, written or oral, between the same parties concerning the same subject matter.
Applicable law. This contract shall be governed by and interpreted and enforced in accordance with the PMRL and, as applicable, Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act, 53 P.S. § 895.101 et seq., as they shall, from time to time, be amended.
Mistake in the record. Should any change or mistake in records result in any member, beneficiary or survivor annuitant receiving from the System more or less than the individual would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, then, regardless of the intentional or unintentional nature of the error and upon the discovery of such error, the Board shall correct the error and so far as practicable adjust the payments which may be made for and to such person in such a manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which he was correctly entitled shall be paid.
Binding effect. This contract inures to the benefit of and binds all parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Counterparts. This contract may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but the several counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Severability. If any one or more of the covenants, agreements, provisions, or terms of this contract shall be held contrary to any express provision of applicable law then such covenants, agreements, provisions, or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions, or terms of this contract and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this contract or the rights of the parties hereto.
No presumption based upon draftsmanship. For purposes of the interpretation and construction of this contract and for the purpose of resolving any ambiguity herein, no inference or presumption shall be accorded to any party hereto based upon draftsmanship.
Headings. The headings and captions in this contract are for convenience and reference purposes only and shall not be construed or deemed to explain, modify, amplify, or aid in the interpretation, construction, or meaning of the provisions hereof.

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