Home > News

LYNN He spends an average 55 hours a year on School Committee business, but the Retirement Board calculated John Fords service as an elected official in years, not hours, last week when it voted to accept Ford as a future city retiree whose pension will be partly paid by local taxpayers.

Board members Buzzy Barton, Richard Biagiotti, Claire Cavanagh and Stephen Spencer voted last Tuesday to credit Ford for eight years service on the committee. Board Chairman Michael Marks only votes to break a tie.

Fords entry into the system expands the number of elected officials entering Lynns public retirement system. The systems 1,200 former city employee members divide up $31 million-worth of pensions annually. Lynn taxpayers foot $23 million worth of that cost.

Board Director Gary Brenner said the board had little choice but to accept Ford into the system because elected officials like Ford qualify for admission into public retirement systems under state law. Ford, said Brenner, is the first local School Committee member to be voted in by the board.

I think were the only people in the city who dont get something, Ford said last Wednesday.

Brenner estimated city taxpayers will eventually pay about 30 percent of Fords pension once he retires from his job as an aide to state Rep. Steven Walsh based on pension worth 25 percent of his aides salary.

Fords legislative salary is listed on the state website as $30,000 a year.

When his pension is calculated, were responsible, Brenner said.

Read the original:
Retirement board OKs Ford pension