HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1991.08.08 - 18411Miscellaneous Resolution # 91163 August 8, 1991
BY: PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - Marilynn E. Gosling, Chairperson
IN RE: AMENDMENT OF RETIREMENT SYSTEM RULES
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Ms. Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
passed Miscellaneous Resolution #90075 on April 5, 1990; and
WHEREAS the Attorney General of the State of Michigan
requested minor changes and changes relating to changes in the
Laws of the State; and
WHEREAS no other material changes other than those
required by law are being recommended and there will be no
additional financial impact on the County as a result of
implementing the proposed changes;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the amended Oakland
County Retirement System Rules as attached are hereby adopted.
Ms. Chairperson, on behalf of the Personnel Committee,
I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County
of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 8th day ?f) Au
Lynn/b. Allen, County Clerk
Resolution # 91163 August, 8, 1991
Moved by Gosling supported by Jensen the resolution be adopted.
AYES: Jensen, Johnson, Krause, Law, McConnell, McCulloch, McPherson, Millard,
Moffitt, Oaks, Olsen, Palmer, Pappageorge, Pernick, Price, Rewold, Serra, Skarritt,
Wolf, Aaron, Bishop, Caddell, Crake, Gosling, Huntoon. (25)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution was adopted.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND
I, Lynn D. Allen, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing
resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County
Board of Commissioners on August 8, 1991
with the on record thereof now remaining 5 my office.
FRANK J. KELLEY
ATTORNEY GENERAL
LANSING July 19, 1991
48913
STATE OF MiCHIIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
STANLEY D. STEINBORN
Chief Assistant Attorney General
Mr. Douglas J. Williams, Secretary
Oakland County Employees' Retirement Bd.
1200 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, Michigan 48341
war...LaALu vvuilLy 1-N.cteatet.4. R.Larrileat System Resolution
Dear Mr. Williams:
I have reviewed your July 2, 1991 letter, along with the
Restated Resolution of June, 1991. I again reviewed the file in
this matter, including your prior letter of January 17, 1991, and
my January 28, 1991 response.
At this point, as a consequence of our prior
discussions, I am prepared to recommend approval of the Restated
Resolution to the County Pension Plan Committee. However, I am
uncertain whether the June, 1991 Restated Resolution is, in fact,
a "draft" resolution, which has not yet been finally approved by
the County Board of Commissioners. Before I will formally recom-
mend to the committee that it approve the June, 1991 Restated
Resolution, I will require that you provide a certificate from
the Oakland County Clerk, certifying that the June, 1991 Restated
Resolution was adopted by the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners. Once I receive the certificate, I will promptly
forward my recommendation.
Very truly yours,
FRANK J. KELLEY
Attorney General
Michael J. J. Moquin
Assistant Attorney General
Retirement Division
P.O. Box 30217
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-1174
MJM:db
cc: Dorothy Stevens, Administrator
County Pension Plan
VV.
2
QT.1.017-E3,41CZEJ1010C7Z0
3TATE OF MICHJGAN
DEPA.k:-MENT OF ATTORNEY GEN
D. STEININAN
Oief AxsiitOnt Attorney Crrneral
FRANK J. KELLEY
ATTORKE1 GlINERAL
tl ,.cmber 6, 1q)
N. Douclae Williare, SecreterY
Oakland Cc. Employees Retirement Bd.
1200 N -th Tt-legraph Road
Pontiac, Xichigan 48C5
RE: Oakland County Restated Retirement System ':-c?,00lution.
pear Mr. W12:lame:
On November 24, 1890, I received the County Pension Commit-
tee's referral of the above plan for legal review for compliance
with MCL 46.12. Sectior. 22a has last been amended by 1990 PA
a7e, which took immediate 7ffect July 2. 2990. I have compard
the February 2990 Reetated F,sclution of the Oakland County
Employees Retirement Systet. (prove 6 by the Oakland County
Executive on April 28, 1990, er.d directed by you U.) Dorothy
,Stevens, Administrator of the County Pension ?lam Committee, on
October. 16, 1990) with the :anuary 1988 Rules and Regulations
governing the Oakland County Employees' Retirement System. The
January 2956 Rules and RegulatIons contvA.n those revisions maf.e
through calendur year 1986 (Resclution'L, 86-146 and 68-182), as
supplemented by 1969 Resolutions 69-025 ,_,J1d 89-126wh1ch have
been approved by the County Pension Plan Committee.
I have rlwiewed each section of the proposed Restated Resolution.
Qutstions concerning /egal sufficiency under I I2a (also r:-trrv.d
to as "57,otion 12a") exist as to the following sections:
(2) pection 10, Oredlted Service: Reinstatement of.
Section 12a(1)(b) governs. The concern 44$ with reepect to 6 10(b),
which 'tater that repayment is initiated and completed within the
time p.:riod established by the 7-0,-6t1rement Commission. Contr - ted
with this proposed language Is tht of $ 12a(1)(b), which rele-
vantly provides that, with respect to conditions of repayment,
the plan "may require that repayment be completed within period
•
Mr. Dow 1 J. Milli-m4, Secretary
Ca):Ifld Co. Employees R tirement bd.
Dec -mber 5, 1990
Peg.; 2
of not lea* tl-aAn 2 year following return to employment." Accord-
ing:ye wher,,; the County desires to establish a reinstatement of
credited servic provision within its plan, as in S 10, It lc= 7,
statutory requirement that the member may not be compened to
complete repayment In less than one .year following return to
•mp!cyment. The objection may be cured by adding to 5 10b a
second sentence to read: "In all cases, repayment shall be COM-
pleted not less than one (1) year following return to employment,
unless the member wishes to compute repayment earlier."
(2) 2ection 11, Intervening Military Service: Con-
ditions for credited service.
Through 1975 PA 103, 12-(14), the LIgIsJaturr first authorized
the crediting of military service. As enacted, subsection Z4
containee. a maximum authorization for crediting mnitary
service; the required contribution, with interest at the rate of
2k, to be "based on the period of military service claimed and
the member's applicable contribution ;rogram an annua: rate of
compensation In effect at the time of payment."
The military service crediting provision was next •?.-_,m.nded by 1980
PA 439, S 12a(15) (the renumbrld former subsection 14). The
former C-year maximum was reduced to five years. Furthermore,
the contribution requirement was c7inged to "an .ount equal te
Elk of the member's full-time or equ6ted fu21-time annual compen-
sation for the year in which paylnt is made. . . ." .kmendatory
:980 FA 439 also added the requirement: "Service shall not be
credited under this subsection until the memb7r has 10 years of
credited service in force." These requirements set forth In :108C,
PA 439 have been oontinw-fd through subsequent amendments, and
appear in 1990 PA 178, S 12a(14) (with the exception that "10
years" has been replac! by "the number of years needed to vest.
.").
Section 21(c) correctly specifies the maximum 5-year limitation
(as contrasted with the former e -yer Lrovision appearin7 in
current S 20(3)). This change is thus complly consistent with
3990 V 178, S 12a(14).
In order to comply with 1990 PA 178, S 12a(14), 5 11 will require
two additional sub75tctions (which, for all purposes will be vir-
Hually Identical to restated $ 120 and 12b, concerning noninter-
veninw military service credit). The two new subsectiona of S 11
must deal with the requirement that intervening military service
shall not be credited until the member has the number of years of
credited servi - required to vest (not including any credited
4
Mr. Douglas J. Williams, Secretary
Oakland C. Emp1oy7Jes netirement bd.
December 7. 1990
Page 3
service for nonintervening military service under $ 32); ane,
secondly, that "The member pays the retirement system 5N of the
member's annual, full-time rate of compensation at time of VI-
sent multiplied by the period of service beIng claimed."
(3) Section 12, Nonintrvvning Milit!try Servle: con-
ditions for credited ',:rvice, complies with /t-J PA 177, 5 12a(15)
in all respects.
(4) I note that S 23 provides, for the first time, 'Mb:
the Oakland County Employees Retirement System 1: $ reciprocal
retirement system under 1961 PA 68. Section 3(3) csf the :Ct,
36.1103(3) provides:
"The governing body of amunicipal or state
unit, within 10 days after it elects to come under
the provisions cf this act, sh121 file written
certification of its action with the secretary cf
state. Upon the filing of the certification the
municipal unit or state unit sh;.11 be a rpciproce:
unit. ."
I,note that the proposed PestKted Reolut!on provides that ite
ter me win beccme effective on pas ....ag by the County Board of
Commissioners end approval by the County Pension Plan Committee.
Section 2(c). The point Is that the County Fiust file notice of
its e2ection with the Secretary of StUt4 ten (10) days after
aproval by the County Pension Flan Committee.
(5) Section 21, Re-Employment by a County: 7ff:ct on
Pension Payments.
I note that the proposed language in the Restated Resolution was
Approved by the County Executive on April lb, 1990. However, the
Legislature, pursuant to 1990 PA 70, amended $ 12a, by the addi-
tion of new subsection (2E), which took immediate effect on Apri:
30, 1990 (now subsection 29, which language remains unch7,nvd
under the most recent amendment to 5 12a, being 1900 PA 17L).
Subsection 20 states that beginnin7 on ADril 30, 2990, certain
conditions
"shall ppIy to 4_ retirant who is receiving a
pension or retiremt-nt ben tit from a plan under this
section if the retir4ment becomes employed by a
county that has est blished" 5 22a plan.
•
5
Mr. Dot:gl J. tilii ry
Oakland co. Zxmployees Petir -rment Bd.
December 5, 1090
Page 4.
Clearly, where an Oakland County r-tirant le r ,,,mployed by the
County. 5 12a(29) directly appli_z. In that svent4 thlanguage',
of subsection 29(a) controls:
"Payment of the :nsio or retirement benefit
to the retirant shall su‘pended if the i retirant
is omployd by the county from which the retirant
retired. suspension of the payment of the pension
or retirement benefit -11112 become effective the
first day of the c*lend‘r month thst follows the
sixtieth day after the tetlrant Is employeC by the
county. Payment of the pension or retireMent bene-
fit shall revame on first pay of the *lender
month that follows termination of the employment.
Payment of the pension or retirement benefit shall
be resumed wIthout change in amount or conditions
by remeons of the employment. The retirant shall
not be a member of the paan during the period: cf
employment."
Accordinc2y, it is clear that the proposed language in restated
5 22 (which is new language) is contrary to the mandatory
language of subsTction (29)(a)). Eowever, it apv-ars that § 22
cold be applied to vested former members only who are not
receiving a pension or benefit.
(6) !jtlo 2ç Eisabllity Retirement: Special Pro-
visions if Duty-Incurred.
Subsection (5), second sentnce of S 12 coverns thi- *ection,
and relevantly provides:
"A pan may also provide for pension br retire-
ment benefits to the :4stnt at the limitations prc-
vided,in this section or $400.00 per month whichever
is the greater sum, for an employee who becomes
totally disabled for work in the county aievice from
causes that are the Liirect an 2roximate /*suit of
county employment, to continue for the duration of
the disability or until the employee becomes eligible
for retirement purrluant to other provision of the
plan authorized by th17 section." (7mphas s cu;plied) t
6
Mr. Dovelike J. Wi1 Secret -ry
Oakland co. =:mploy e .,etiremLnt
December 5, 1990
Peg E.
Therefore, in 5 26, third sentence, after the word "direct" the
words "and proximate" should be inserted before lault." Fita::y,
th, last cl.ksuse of 26 10-ould be amended by the 4 dltion Of the
concluding phrase after th word "Compensation," the flowing:
"or 5400.00 per month, which.Lver is greater."
(7) Section ,7(179f2J, concerning disability retired
members considered ico
Subsection (2) concerns Worker's Consation weekly benefits,
The last ser.tnce in subsection (2) states: "Worker'S compen-
sation lenefits :or b*na fide medical expenses. as determined by
the Commission, shal not be considerQd income." •
Because of the context of this section, and this sentenc, it may
be argued that the word "Co. •.lesion" refers to the !Workr's Com-
pensation Appellate Commission, and not the County 'Retirement
Commission. It is my sense that the Restated Resolluticn is pre-
cise where referring to the Retirement Commission. Further, if
the "Commission" here referred to is, in fact, the Worker's COM-
4.1 pensation Appellate Commission, it should be so st td. amI A•:ould
d::.,a2ly a2so refer to the Worker's Compnisation App al Board. In
either event, specification is necessary, I believe.
(S) Section 33, beginning paregrph, third ain. After
the :ang..:ege "Retirement ComMiselon finds thrA the ;debt is the
direct result" Insert "and proximat" before, "rult. . . ."
This change will accord with S
(0) Section 42(g), dealin7 with th coOsition of the
Retiremnt Co. ission, provides for a retired member of the
System "who resides in Oakland County . ." Section Z3(c) deals
with vacancies. My concern, based on similar situations in other
rtirement oommisions, is where the retired member resides in
OLkland County t th time of thii election but subsequently 'oyes
out of the county. Under 6 43(c), as presently strUctured, if
the retiring member should move out of Oakland County, a vacancy
Is not declared to exist. If it la intended that the moving of a
retiring member nuteide of Oakland County results in a vcLation
of office, then 43(c) should specifically so state.
.T
7
uacy of the
of MCL 4542*
e comments with
d Resolution
ts should be
on Plan
ectly to Bt.
tions.
Mr. Douglas 3. Williams, Secretary
Oakland Co. Employees Retirement Dd.
December 5, 2990
Page 6.
PONCLUSION
The above comments constitute rcvlew for legal *de '
'proposed Restated Resoiution, with the requirement
as last amended by 1990 PA 27. Fleas, review the
Corporation Counsel and submit an *mended, certifi
reflewting the necessary changes. Original docume.
directly submitted to Dorothy Stevens, County Pens
Coordinator, with cover letter, and copies sent di :
Please feel frc.-, to contact if you neve any quo
Very truly yours,
FRANK J. KELLEY
Attorney General
Sy Michael 3. .f t in (F 27304)
Assistant Attorn y G'n ,:r ,1
Plaza One, Third Floor
401 S. Washingtoril Square
P. O. BOX .30217.
Lansing, Lichi :-i 40900
TeleFhone; S17 , 373-1174
MJM:ms
CC; Ms. Dorothy StIv_ns
8
,
STANLEY D. STF.INITIORN
Chkf elasimvo Attorney General
IPEttleaa
STATE Or MICRICAN •
-Ai5MENT OW ATTORNiy,GENL
FAN K J. ICELLKY
ATT14P.V CrNFIIAL
LANSINO
41913
Januar': 2E, 3.991
Mr. Douglaa J. Williams, Secvtary
Oakland Co! Zmployees Retirement Id.
1200 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, Michigan 48053
RE: Oakland County Restthd Retirement S1st71
Dear Mr. WillisMs:
I have received your responsive letter of January 17, 19t4, along ;
with the propoesd Restate l Resolution of January, 1;91. I agree'
with the statement in your letter that it is prefer ble to resOlVi
outstondin issues prior to the board of Commiselo acting upon
revisea 7esolution. 1
I em ralviding this letter into three sections; Points of Agree-
ment; Disagreement; and Additional Matter. to be Addzessd. •
1. Pointe 21 AIVISSMADt.;
With the exception at Issue concerning this •400 gcr month
minimum duty-disability pensioi4 1ii40e, I have reviewed the Jan;
1901 :iestated RP,solutpn, and I am satisfied that t e comments
made In my December 6, 1990, lettdr h,2ve been sati factorily
addressed. Further, new 4 35.1 is 1;proved under teauthority
of 1 124(10).
2. Pnintm of Disagreement:
I have again reviewed Commat 6 of my December 0, 1990, , letter; the 33 separate amendment , to 4 12a since it was first
added to 1851 PA 155 by 1043 PA 2'A and the Comments set forth
in your January 17, 1991, letter. I am in agreement that the
duty-disability provision itself (S 12a(8) of 1990 IPA 178) is
ft mandatory provision that a county .7hal1 adopt; the provision is
9
Mr. Douglas J. 3 , Secretary
Oakland Co. employees eatIremene ed.
Januery 28, 1991
Page 3
requires at least ten yeers of county employment. The benefit is,
as provided by tle, elan under $ 12a. There Is no C -etutory
requirement that a county make available the "generic " disabillty
provision, but e county may choose to do so; and i f it chooses to -
do so, it muet follow the statutory language. The estated Resolu-
tion of January 1991, e 24(a) is this type of gen•r c option, and
if the county did not have a specific duty-disabill y provieion
such as 5 26, I would have no problem.
The second '/entence of 5 12a(0) of Act 178, the dut
option, follows the clear statutory path I have die
and states; "A plan may also provide for pensiOn
benefits to the extent of the limitations provided
tion or $400.00 per month, whichever Is the greater 'sum . ."
The critical language "whichever is the greater •ume" as noted
above, firet appeared In 5 12a through 1934 PA 149. [Note that
the same legislative scheme also exists lh $ 12a(3)e fourth sen-
tence, concerning the allowance for the actual dependents of a
deceased county employee whose death is duty-rolatedj
Accordingly, it Is my opinion thet under the second lentence of ,
6 12a(5) of At 270, where e county opts to provide duty- . disability retirement benefit, the statutory menu establishes ,
the benefit "to the extent of the limitations provided in this
eection [le, entirely of I 1211 or $400100 per mont, whichever '
Is the greater sum . . ." Therefore, it is my opinion that the ,
concluding clause of 5 26 of the Restated Resolution of January '
1991, providing that "the pension amount shall not be less than
17% of the member' e final average compensation," is not authorized
under the second sentence of 1 12e(8) of Act 178.1
3 - Add.APY.Ial.. 2ROMtrqq;
I note that the County provides for vestine et eight years service'
per $ 7. Intervening Military Service, 5 11(c) vont ins a re-
quirement that the inlividual have at least . ten yeer credited
service, Section 12a(1e), as last amended 'el, ect :7p, relevantly
I note that the second clause of $ 26 ("credited servlce Alan
include years and fraction of a year, if any, be ween the ef-
fective date of the disability pension and the dete the memb r
would ttain age 60 yeartn ° le an "optional provision"
directly drawn from the last sentence of $ lea(e! of Act 78.
-disability
ussed ebove,
retirement
n this sec-
10
• LL,All not
as the number
•
cord with $ 7
rvice, Sec-
a, at least
est." Thus,
It n4
ORKLAND CO.TRERSURER 1EL: .)10 -bW1 -161t, „ran INU.VVLI 1.V4
Mr, Douglas J. Williams, :,:crrtary
Oakland co. Employeee Ret1.17ment 8d.
January 28, 1091
Page 4
,
provides i its second to last sontetme that "Servi
be credited under this subsection until the member
of years of credited service needed to vest under t
Thus, 1 11(c) should be changed to eight year. to a
and Section 12a(14).
With reaivect to 12(a), Non-Intervening Military IS
tion 17(10)(b) eimilarly provides that the x ,Imber
"the number of 'are of credited service .n4ed to
the ten yer old be changed to eight years.
Despite the 6-year general vesting requirement, # 24(b), ten year
credited service tor disability r7tirement, is the •tatutorily re
quired minimum under ,7; 12a(S) of Act 178, first sentence. Sec-
tion 26, first clause, also remains appropriate undr I 12a(5).
Please examln
member hav ha
an employee of
29(b), which currently provi0,-. tnit th_
ten or mor4 years credited 4 ,avic4 Ad Z14d ir.h1141
the county. Also see 5 31(b)(2).
SUMMARY •
The above comment conotitute review for legal adequacy of the !
proposed Ii/td Resolution draft of January 1991 With the re- '
quirements of MCL 46.12a as last amended by 1990 178. please
review these comments with corporation Counsel. D1r•ct your
written comments to me, and contact me if you !lave any questions.i
Very truly youre,
7174rla 3. KE
:LtC.,rny Oe
LEY
oral
tam,
By Michael
Assistant A
Plaza One,
401 S. Wash
P. O. DOx 3
Lansing, MI
Telephone;
1.711:ms
cc: Ms. Dorothy Stevens
.0Moquin
torney General
hird Floor
ngton Square ,
217
higen 48909
- 373-1174
11
MEMBERS
DENNIS L. MURPHY
Chairperson
H. LLOYD HAMPTON
Vice-Chalrperson
C. HUGH DOHANY
Treasurer
DR. G. WM. CADDELL
DANIEL T. MURPHY
SHANE MURPHY
ROY REWOLD
JAMES H. VanLEUVEN, JR.
JOHN WITHERUP
DOUGLAS J. WILLIAMS
Secretary
JACK C. HAYS
Corporation Counsel
o_.-74(LAr--7) COLETr; rETIREMENT BOiFfl
1200 NORTH TELEGRAPH ROAD — PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48341
July 2, 1991
Mr. Michael J. Moquin
Assistant Attorney General
Plaza One, Third Floor
401 S. Washington Square
P. O. Box 30217
Lansing, MI 48909
Dear Mr. Moquin:
Enclosed is a revised version of the restated Oakland County
Employees' Retirement System Resolution. In accordance with your
letter dated January 28, we have eliminated the 17% minimum provision
for the duty related Disability Pensions under Section 26. Other
points in your letter are addressed below:
Secton 11(c). Section 12a(14) states in part "Service shall not
be credited under this subsection until the member has the number
of years of credited service needed to vest under the plan". We
understand this language to be a prohibition against crediting
intervening military service before an employee has accumulated
the 8 years of service required to vest his benefit. The 10
years of service requirement in Section 11(c) ensures that no one
with fewer than 8 years will be credited with intervening
military service. We do not believe that Section 12a(14)
requires an 8 year test, but rather that it prohibits a test of
fewer than 8 years.
Section 12(a). Section 12a(15)(b) states in part "the member has
at least the number of years of credited service needed to vest
under the plan...". Again, we understand this language to pro-
hibit crediting non-intervening military service before 8 years
of service have been earned, rather than requiring an 8 year
test.
Sections 29(b) and 31(b)(2). We believe these sections to be a
reasonably common configuration of survivor benefits among
Michigan county plans as well as plans for employees of Michigan
cities. Under Section 29 a survivor benefit will be paid to a
spouse if the deceased member had 10 or more years of service.
Under Section 31, the employee is allowed to elect a non-spouse
dependent as beneficiary but with more stringent requirements
than under Section 29, namely 25 years of service unless he has
attained age 60 in which case 10 years is required. We believe
this to be in compliance with Section 12a(5) which prohibits us
from providing survivor benefits for employees with less than 10
years of service unless the death was duty related.
12
Mr. Michael J. Moquin
Page 2
We believe that with the most recent revision our Resolution is completely
in compliance with Section 12a.
Respectfully,
4 AI 4
Dougla J. Williams
Secretary
13
OAKLAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESTATED RESOLUTION
JUNE, 1991
GABRIEL, ROEDER, SMITH & COMPANY
Subject Section
59
56
60
57
54
58
55
51
Index to the Oakland County Employees
Retirement System Restated Resolution
Accounting
Assets not segregated
Employer contributions
Interest credits
Investment income
Member contributions
Expense reserve
Reserve for pension payments
Actuarial
Funding
Administration
Annual report 46
Appeal of denied claim for benefits 40
Application for benefits 37
Correction of errors 63
Internal Revenue Code qualification 64
Investments 47
Retirement Commission
Administrative authority 41
Composition 42
Compensation 49
Employment of services 45
Investment authority 47
Meetings 44
Officers 45
Prohibited actions 48
Quorum 44
Records 44
Tables 50
Term of office 43
Vacancy 43
Voting 44
Pensions: commencement & termination 39
Pensions: payment 38
Setoff 62
Subrogation 62
Credited Service
Earning 8
Forfeiture of 9
Intervening military service 11
Non-Intervening military service 12
Reciprocal retirement system 13
Reinstatement 10
15
Disability Benefits
Amount of pension 25
Duty incurred 26
Eligibility 24
Limitations on amount of pension 27
Re-examination 28
Suspension of pension 28
Termination of pension 28
Member Contributions
Amount of 52
Interest credited 60
Refund on termination of employment 53
Membership in Retirement System
Eligibility 4
Excluded positions
Termination 6
Vested termination 7
Miscellaneous Provisions
Benefit groups - amount 16
Benefit groups - composition 14
Benefit groups - eligibility 15
Benefits not assignable 61
Compensation: definition of 3
Final average compensation: definition of 3
Fraud 65
Headings 68
Payment options available 23
Post retirement increases 35
Repeal 67
Severability 66
Normal Retirement Benefits
Age and service requirements 18
Amount of pension 19
Conditions 17
Effect of re-employment 22
Maximum 20
Vested former members 21
Survivor Benefits
Automatic - amount 30
Automatic - composition 29
Duty incurred 33
Elective - -,mount 32
Elective - composition 31
Non-duplication 34
Retired member 23
Refund of contributions - active member 53
Refund of contributions - retired member 36
2/90
January, 1991
A RESOLUTION AMENDING AND RESTATING THE OAKLAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT
SYSTEM RESOLUTION TO INCORPORATE ACCUMULATED CHANGES, REMOVE OBSOLETE MATERIAL,
AND TO CONFORM TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAW,
THE COUNTY OF OAKLAND RESOLVES:
That the Oakland County Employees Retirement System resolution is hereby amended
and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
Retirement System Effective Date; Continuation; Purpose.
Section 1. The Oakland County Employees Retirement System established effective
January 1, 1946 under authority of Section 12a of Act No. 156, Public Acts of
1851, as amended, is continued for the purpose of providing retirement income to
qualifying employees and former employees, and survivor income to their quali-
fying beneficiaries. The Retirement System does not provide health insurance.
Short Title; Application; Effective Date of Restatement.
Section 2. (a). This resolution may be cited as the Oakland County retirement
resolution.
(b). This restatement will apply to individuals employed by the County on
and after the effective date of the restatement. The retirement rights of an
individual whose County employment terminated before the effective date of this
restatement will be governed by the provisions of the retirement system resolu-
tion in effect on the date the individual last terminated County employment.
(c). This resolution shall become effective immediately upon final passage
by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Oakland and approval by the County
Pension Plan Committee.
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Definitions.
Section 3. As used in this resolution:
(a) "Accumulated member contributions" means the balance in a member's
Individual account in the reserve for t ember contributions.
(b) "Beneficiary" means an individual who is being paid or ho has entitle-
ment to the future payment of a pension on account of a reason other than the
Individual's membership in the retirement system.
(c) "Compensation" means the salary or wages paid in money to n employee
for personal services rendered the County while a member of the retirement
system. Salary and 'ages shall include overtime pay; longevity pay; payments in
consideration of unused vacation and sick leave to the extent permitted under the
member's collective bargaining agreement or the merit system rules. Compensation
shall not include any remuneration or reimbursement not specifically stated to
be included.
(d) "County" means Oakland County, State of Michigan, and its various
offices, boards and departments, and shall include the Board of County Road
Commissioners.
(e) "Final average compensation" means the average of the annual compen-
sations paid a member during any 5 consecutive years of credited service
producing the highest average, contained within the 10 years of credited service
immediately preceding the member's last termination of employment with the
County, if the member has at least 5 years of credited service.
Final average compensation means the aggregate amount of compensation paid a mem-
ber divided by the member's years and fraction of a year of credited service if
the member has less than 5 years of credited service.
(f) "Pension" means a series of equal monthly payments by the retirement
system. Payment may be for a temporary period or throughout the future life of
a retired member or beneficiary.
(g) "Retired member" means an individual who is being paid a pension on
account of the individual's membership in the retirement system.
(h) "Service" means personal service rendered the County while a member of
the retirement system and qualifying military service pursuant to Sections 11 and
12.
Membership in Retirement System.
Section 4. An individual who is employed by the County, its offices or depart-
ments in a permanent position normally requiring 1000 or more hours of work per
year shall be a member of the retirement system unless employed in an excluded
position enumerated in F -.ction 5. In case of doubt the Retirement Commission
shall decide who is a meaer.
Excluded Positions.
Section 5.Excluded positions are:
(a) Positions as employees of the Board of County Road Commissioners.
(b) Positions which are compensated on a basis not subject to the withhold-
ing of Federal income taxes or FICA taxes by the County or to existing fringe
benefits provided by the County.
(c) Positions filled by temporary employees.
(d) Any position held by a retired member.
(e) Any position held by a person who is included by law in any other
pension or retirement system by reason of the compensation paid by the County,
except the Federal Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program.
(f) Positions for which the County pays less than 30 percent of all
compensation received by the employee from all governmental units.
Termination of Membership.
Section 6. An individual shall cease to be a member upon termination of employ-
ment by the County, or upon ceasing to be employed in a position normally requir-
ing 1,000 or more hours of work per year, or upon becoming employed in an
excluded position. Upon re-employment by the County, or transfer into a position
that is not excluded, the individual shall again become a member.
Vested Termination of Membership.
Section 7. A member who ceases to be a member for a reason other than retirement
or death, and who has 8 or more years of credited service and leaves on deposit
in the retirement system the member's accumulated member contributions shall be
a vested former member.
Credited Service; Earning of.
Section 8. Service rendered by a member shall be credited to the member's
Individual credited service account in accordance with rules the Retirement
Commission shall prescribe. A member in a position designated by the County as
part-time position shall receive credit for a fraction of a year. The fraction
shall be equal to the number of regular hours worked during the year divided by
the number of full-time hours for the year. In no case shall
- more than one year of credited service be credited on account of all
service rendered by a member in any one calendar year.
- less than ten days of service in a calendar month be credited as a
month of s.Jrvice.
- less than ten months of service in a calendar year be credited as a
year of service.
Credited Service; Forfeiture of.
Section 9. Credited service shall be forfeited if an individual ceases to be a
member and does not qualify as a vested former member. Credited service shall
be forfeited if an individual receives a refund of accumulated member contribu-
tions.
Credited Service; Reinstatement of.
Section 10. A member may have forfeited credited service restored upon satisfac-
tion of each of the following conditions:
(a) The retirement system is paid the total amount of accumulated member
contributions previously withdrawn plus compound interest from the dates of with-
drawal to the dates of repayment at rates stipulated by the Retirement Commis-
sion;
(b) The repayment is initiated and completed within the time period
established by the Retirement Commission, which period shall not end before the
first anniversary of the member's re-employment.
(c) The member was re-employed in a County position involving membership in
the retirement system within 3 years of the member's last termination of
membership.
Intervening Military Service; Conditions for Credited Service.
Section 11. A member Cio leaves the employ of the County to enter any armed ser-
vice of the United States during any period of compulsory military service shall
be entitled to credited service for periods of active duty 1 -,sting 30 or more
days, if each of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The individual is re-employed by the County within 1year from and after
the date of termination of active duty;
(b) The individual becomes a member 7nd pays the retirement system the total
amount of accumulated member contributions previously withdrawn, plus compound
interest from the dates of withdrawal to the dates of repayment;
(c) The individual has :A least 10 years of credited service, not including
any credited service acquired for non-intervening military service under the
provisions of Section 12;
(d) The individual pays the retirement system 5% of the individual's annual,
full-time rate of compensation at time of payment multiplied by the period of
service being claimed;
(e) No more than 5 years of credited service shall be granted on account of
all military service of the member;
(f) Credited service shall not be granted for periods of military service
which are or could be used for obtaining or increasing a benefit from another
retirement system.
Non-intervening Military Service; Conditions for Credited Service.
Section 12. A member who has served in any armed service of the United States
shall be entitled to credited service for periods of active duty lasting 30 or
more days, if each of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The member has at least 10 years of credited service, not including any
credited service acquired for intervening military service under the provisions
of Section 11;
(b) The member pays the retirement system 5% of the member's annual, full-
time rate of compensation at time of payment multiplied by the period of service
being claimed;
(c) Armed service credited a member under this paragraph shall not exceed
the smaller of two (2) years and the difference between five (5) years and the
intervening armed service credited the member under Section 11;
(d) Credited service shall not be granted for periods of military service
which are or could be used for obtaining or increasing a benefit from another
retirement system;
(e) The member entered the armed service before June 1, 1980 or entered
during a time of war or emergency condition on or after June 1, 1980;
(f) The member elects to purchase the service and contributes the required
amount to the retirement system within one (1) year of the member's eligibility
date. The eligibility date for County employees whose employment is not subject
to collective bargaining is January 1, 1989. The purchase of non-intervening
military service will apply to a County employee whose employment is subject to
collective bargaining only if included in the applicable barg -ining agreement.
If included, the eligibility date will be as specified in the Areement.
Reciproc,1 Retirement System.
Section 13. The retirement system is a reciprocal retirement system under the
provisions of Act 88, Public Acts of 1961, as amended.
Benefit groups; Composition of.
Section 14. The following benefit groups are designated for the purpose of
determining benefit eligibility conditions, benefit amounts, and member contribu-
tion rates:
(a) Benefit group general - option A. All members not included in benefit
group Sheriff's Department whose employment agreements with the County indicate
that they are option A employees.
(b) Benefit group general - option B. All members not included in benefit
group Sheriff's Department whose employment agreements with the County indicate
that they are option B employees.
(c) Benefit group Sheriff's Department. All members employed in the
Sheriff's Department who are covered by a bargaining agreement between the County
and the Oakland County Deputy Sheriffs Association or the Command Officers
Association,
Benefit Groups; Effect on Retirement Eligibility
Section 15. Benefit eligibility conditions shall be those applicable to the mem-
ber's benefit group at time of termination of membership. If the member has less
than 2 years of credited service under the member's last benefit group, benefit
eligibility conditions shall be those applicable to the benefit group under which
the member last earned at least 2 years of credited service.
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22
Benefit groups; Effect on Pension Amount.
Section 16. Pension amounts shall be separately determined for each benefit
group for which the member has credited service, using retirement system provi-
sions in effect at time of termination of membership. The amount of a pension
under optional form of payment SL (Secdon 19) is rAual to the sum of separate
amounts determined in accordance with the benefit formula applicable to each
benefit group under which the retiring individual has credited service. The
amount of pension -ltributable to credited service under a particular benefit
group is equal to a fraction of the amount of pension determined as if the
individual's total credited service in force was under the benefit group. The
numerator of the fraction is the individual's credited service under the benefit
group. The denominator of the fraction is the individual's total credited
service.
Normal Retirement; Conditions for.
Section 17. An individual may retire with a normal retirement pension upon
satisfaction of each of the following requirements:
(a) A written application for retirement, in the form prescribed by the
Retirement Commission, has been filed with the retirement system;
(b) Membership is terminated prior to the date of retirement;
(c) The individual meets the applicable age and/or service requirements for
normal retirement.
Normal Retirement; Age and Service Requirements.
Section 18. The age and/or service requirements for normal retirement are:
(a) Benefit group general - option A. The individual has attained age 55
years and has 25 or more years of credited service, or the individual has
attained age 60 years and has 8 or more years of credited service.
(b) Benefit group general - option B. The individual has attained age 55
years and has 25 or more years of credited service, or the individual has
attained age 60 years and has 8 or more years of credited service.
(c) Benefit group Sheriff Department. The individual has attained age 50
years and has 25 or more years of credited service with the sheriff department,
or the individual has attained age 55 and has 25 or more years of credited
service, or the individual has attained age 60 years and has 8 or more years of
credited service.
Upon normal retirement as provided in this section an individual shall be paid
a pension computed according to Sections 19 and 20.
Normal Retirement; Pension .unt.
Section 19. The applicable benefit amount under form of pn -,ent SL (Straight
Life) is computed as follows:
(a) Benefit group general - option A. 2 percent (.02) of the member's final
average compensation multiplied by years of credited service.
(b) Benefit group general - option B. 1.8 percent (.018) of the member's
final average compensation multiplied by years of credited service.
(c) Benefit group Sheriff Department. 2 percent (.02) of the member's final
average compensation multiplied by years of credited service.
If the member or vested terminated member has credited service with more than one
benefit group, the pension amount shall be computed in accordance with the provi-
sions of Section 16.
Normal Retirement; Pension Maximum.
Section 20. The maximum amount of pension financed by County contributions is
75 percent (.75) of an individual's final average compensation.
Retirement; Vested Former Member.
Section 21. (a) A vested former member may retire
- upon attainment of age 55 with 25 or more years of credited service.
- upon attainment of age 50 with 25 or more years of credited service with
the Sheriff's Department.
- upon attainment of age 60.
(b) Withdrawal of accumulated member contributions and forfeiture of
credited service attributable to a period during which contributions to the
retirement system were required by or on behalf of the vested former member shall
constitute forfeiture of all rights in and to the portion of the pension
attributable to the forfeited credited service.
(c) Upon retirement as provided in this section a vested former member shall
be paid a pension computed according to the provisions of Sections 19 and 20 as
in effect on the date the employee ceased to be a member.
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Re-employment by County; Effect on Pension Payments.
Section 22. If a retired member 'ecomes e -ployed by the County the following
rules shall apply
- the retired member's pension payments will be suspended effective as of
the first of the month following the 60th day after the retired member's
re-hire date, unless re-employment by the County has ended by that date.
- the retired member's pension payments will be reinstated as of the first
of the month following termination of the retired member's re-employment.
- the amount of the reinstated pension shall be the amount the retired
member would have received had the retired member not become re-employed
by the County.
Form of payment of a pension.
Section 23. A member may elect to have pension payments made under any one, and
only one, of the following forms of payment and name a survivor beneficiary. The
election and naming of survivor beneficiary shall be made on a form furnished by
and filed with the retirement system prior to the date the first pension payment
is made. An election of form of payment may not be changed on or after the date
the first pension payment is made. A named survivor beneficiary may not be
changed on or after the date the first pension payment is made if form of payment
A, B or D is elected. A named survivor beneficiary may be changed or may be more
than one person if form of payment SL or C is elected. A named survivor
beneficiary must have an insurable interest in the life of the member or vested
former member when named.
Payment shall be made under form of payment SL if there is not a timely election
of another form of payment.
The amount of pension under forms of payment A, B, C, D or E shall have the same
actuarial present value, computed as of the effective date of the pension, as the
amount of pension under form of payment SL.
No payments shall be made to a survivor beneficiary under form of payments A, B,
C or D if duty death benefits under Section 33 become payable on account of the
death of the retired member.
Form of Payment SL - Straight Life Pension. The retired member is paid a pension
for life under form of payment SL. All payments stop upon the death of the
retired member.
Form of Payment A - Life Payments with Full Continuation to Survivor Beneficiary.
The retired member is paid a reduced pension for life under form of payment A.
Upon the death of the retired member during the lifetime of the named survivor
beneficiary, the named survivor beneficiary is paid the full amount of reduced
pension until death.
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Form of Payment B - Life Payments with One-Half Continuation to Survivor
Beneficiary. The retired member is paid a reduced pension for life under form
of payment B. Upon the death of the retired member during the lifetime of the
named survivor beneficiary, the named survivor beneficiary is paid one-half the
amount of reduced pension until death.
Form of Payment C - Life Payments with Ten Years Certain. The retired member
is paid a reduced pension for life under form of payment C. Upon the death of
the retired member, if the retired member received fewer than 120 monthly pension
payments, the named survivor beneficiary is paid the full amount of reduced
pension for the remainder of 120 months. If the named survivor beneficiary has
died before the retired member, or dies before the 120 months have elapsed, the
remaining monthly payments shall be paid to the estate of the last alive of the
retired member and the nuned survivor beneficiary.
Form of Payment D - Life Payments with Continuation to Survivor Beneficiary with
Poo-up.
(1) Full Continuation - The retired member is paid a reduced pension
for life under form of payment D-1. Upon the death of the retired member during
the lifetime of the named survivor beneficiary, the named survivor beneficiary
is paid the full amount of reduced pension until death. Should the named
survivor beneficiary die before the retired member, the retired member's pension
shall be recomputed (pop-up) to a straight life pension (form of payment SL).
(2) One-Half Continuation - The retired member is paid a reduced
pension for life under form of payment D-2. Upon the death of the retired member
during the lifetime of the named survivor beneficiary, the named survivor
beneficiary is paid one-half the amount of reduced pension until death. Should
the named survivor beneficiary die before the retired member, the retired
member's pension shall be recomputed (pop-up) to a straight life pension (form
of payment SL).
Form of Payment E - Life Payments with Social Security Equating. The retired
member is paid an increased pension until age 65 and a reduced pension for life
thereafter under form of payment E. The increased pension payable until age 65
shall approximate the sum of the reduced pension payable after age 65 and the
retiring member's estimated age 65 Social Security primary insurance amount.
Form of payment E is available only to members who retire after attaining age 60
and before attaining age 65. All payments stop upon the death of the retired
member.
Disability Retirement; Conditions for.
Section 24. The Retirement Commission may retire a member who becomes incapaci-
tated for continued employment by the County if each of the following conditions
are met:
(a) Application for disability retirement is filed with the Retirement
Commission by either the member or the member's Department Head;
(b) The member has 10 or more years of credited service;
(c) The member undergoes all medical examinations and tests ordered by the
Retirement Commission, and releases to the Retirement Commission all medical
reports and records requested by the Retirement Commission;
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(d) The medical director certifies to the Retirement Commission in that
(i) the member is nentally or physically totally incapacitated for continued
employment by the County, (ii) the incapacity is likely to be permanent and
(iii) the member should be retired. The effective date of a disability retire-
ment shall not predate (i) the date of disability, or (ii) the date the member
ceases to be paid by the County;
(e) If the member does not concur in the opinion of the medical director,
a medical committee shall be appointed. The medical committee shall be composed
of the medical director, one physician named by the member and one physician
named by the other 2 physicians. If the medical committee certifies to the
Retirement Commission in writing, by majority opinion, that (i) the member is
mentally or physically totally incapacitated for continued employment by the
County and (ii) the incapacity is likely to be permanent, the majority opinion
of the medical committee shall supersede the certification of the medical
director.
Disability Retirement; Pension Amount; Form of Payment.
Section 25. The amount of a disability pension shall be computed in the same
manner as a normal retirement pension, based upon the member's credited service
and compensations earned until the termination of County employment. Section 20
shall apply. The disability retired member shall have the right to elect form
of payment SL, A, B, C or D provided in Section 23.
Disability Retirement; Special Provisions if Duty Incurred.
Section 26. The following exceptions to the provisions of Sections 24 and 25
shall apply if the Retirement Commission finds that the member's disability is
the direct and proximate result of the member's performance of duty as an
employee of the County:
the requirement of 10 years of credited service shall be waived;
credited service shall include years and fraction of a year, if any, between
the effective date of the disability pension and the date the member would attain
age 60 years.
Disability Retirement; Limitation on Pension Amount.
Section 27. (a) The amount of a disability pension shall not exceed the
difference between one hundred percent of the disability retired member's gross
annual rate of compensation at date of retirement and the amount of the disabil-
ity retired member's considered income.
(b) A disability retired member's considered income is the annualized sum
of the following amounts:
(1) Remuneration for personal services rendered in any gainful
employment;
(2) Worker's compensation weekly benefits, redemptions and settlements
on account of the same disability for which retired. If there is a redemption
or settlement of the worker's compensation benefit, weekly benefits at the estab-
lished amount shall be considered to continue until the weekly benefits equal the
amount of the redemption or settlement. Thereafter, the member will be consid-
ered to have no income from worker's compensation tenefits. Worker's compensa-
tion benefits for bona fide medical expenses, =s determined by the Retirement
Commission, shall not be considered income;
(3) Unemployment insurance or similar payments by reason of the
member's County employment.
If a disability retired member's considered income for a year exceeds the
member's gross annual rate of compensation -t date of retirement, such excess
shall be carried forward as considered income for the following year.
(c) Application of the limitation shall be to the amount of pension under
form of payment SL. The effect of an election of any other form of payment shall
be taken into account after application of the provisions of this section.
(d) The Retirement Commission shall periodically request substantiated
income information from the retired member. Failure to provide the requested
information within ninety (90) days of the request shall cause suspension of
payment of the pension until the information is received.
Disability Retirement; Continuation Subject to Re-examination; Suspension/Termin-
ation of Pension.
Section 28. (a) At least once each year during the first 5 years following a
member's retirement for disability and at least once in every 3 year period
thereafter, the Retirement Commission may require a disability retired member to
undergo a medical or other re-evaluation by the medical director if the indivi-
dual has not attained age 60 years. If the disability retired member refuses to
submit to re-evaluation, payment of the pension may be suspended by the Retire-
ment Commission. If the refusal continues for one year, the Retirement Commis-
sion may revoke the disability retired member's rights in and to the disability
pension. A disability pension shall be terminated if the medical director
reports that the disability retired member is no longer mentally or physically
totally incapacitated for continued employment by the County and the Retirement
Commission concurs with the report.
(b) The membership status of a terminated disability retired member who is
returned to County employment shall be governed by the provisions of Sections 4
and 5. Actual credited service at time of disability retirement shall be
restored when the member again acquires membership. Credited service shall not
be granted for the period of disability retirement unless the member was in
receipt of a disability pension on account of a disability arising out of and in
the course of County employment.
(c) A disability retired member those benefit has been terminated r-ho does
not reacquire membership and restoration of credited service shall have actual
credited service at time of disability retirement restored if such restoration
enables the individual to become a vested former member.
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Survivor Pension; Conditions for Automatic Pension to Spouse.
Section 29. A pension shall be paid for life to the surviving spouse of a
deceased member if the following conditions ar) met:
(a) The ..,ember was married to the surviving spouse at time of death; and
either
(b) The member had 10 or more years of credited service and died while an
employee of the County; or
(c) The member was a vested former member who had 20 r -ore
years of credited service.
Survivor Pension; Amount of Automatic Pension to Spouse.
Section 30. The amount of the automatic survivor pension shall be computed as
if the deceased member had retired the day preceding death with a normal
retirement benefit (Sections 17-20) and nominated the spouse as the survivor
beneficiary. If the deceased member had 15 or more years of service or had
attained age 60, the survivor pension will be calculated as if form of payment
A (Section 23) had been elected. If the deceased member had fewer than 15 years
of service and was under age 60, the survivor pension will be calculated as if
form of payment B (Section 23) had been elected. The spouse pension shall
commence at the time stipulated in Section 39. Upon the death of the spouse, the
pension shall terminate.
Survivor Pension; Elective Beneficiary; Conditions for Coverage.
Section 31. (a) A member may name contingent survivor beneficiary for the
exclusive purpose of being paid a pension under the provisions of this section.
The naming of a contingent survivor beneficiary shall be made on a form provided
by and filed with the retirement system. The named contingent survivor benefi-
ciary may be changed or the election revoked at any time.
(b) A pension shall be paid to the named contingent survivor beneficiary,
for life, if each of the following conditions are met:
(1) The member dies while an employee of the County.
(2) The member, at time of elath, has 25 or more years of credited
service; or, is age 60 years or older and has 10 or more years of credited
service.
(3) The named contingent survivor beneficiary is found by the Retire-
ment Commission to have been dependent upon the deceased member for at least 50
percent of the individual's financial support.
Survivor Pension; Elective Beneficiary; Amount of Pension.
Section 32. The amount -f pension paid to the elective beneficiary shall be com-
puted as if the deceased Imber had retired under the 7pp1icable normal retire-
ment provisions (Sections 17 - 20) the day precediig death, elected form of
payment A, and named the elective beneficiary as survivor beneficiary. The
visioA shall terminate upon the death of the elected beneficiary.
Survivor Pension; Special Provisions if Duty Incurred.
Section 33. In the event a member eies, or disability retired member dies within
3 pars of the date of retirement, ...id the Retirement Commission finds that the
death is the direct and proximate result of the member's or disability retired
member's performance of duty as an employee of the County and if worker's
compensation is granted on account of the death arising out of and in the course
of County employment, the following provisions shall apply in lieu of Sections
29 through 32:
(a) If the member had not retired, the accumulated member contributions
shall be refunded in accordance with Section 53;
(b) The surviving spouse of the deceased member or retired member shall
receive a pension equal to the spouse's weekly worker's compensation converted
to an annual basis. The spouse's pension shall begin upon termination of the
statutory period for payment of the worker's compensation and shall continue
until the earlier of the spouse's remarriage or death. As used in this section,
the term spouse means the person to whom the member or retired member was married
at the time the member's or retired member's last employment with the County was
terminated;
(c) If the deceased member or retired member leaves an unmarried child or
children under age 18 years, each such child shall receive a pension equal to the
child's weekly worker's compensation converted to an annual basis. The child's
pension shall begin upon termination of the statutory period for payment of the
worker's compensation and shall continue until the earliest of the child's
adoption, marriage, attainment of age 18 years or death. If there is no spouse
to receive a spouse's pension or the spouse's pension is terminated, each such
child's pension shall be increased by an equal share of the spouse's pension;
(d) The deceased member's or retired member's parents shall each receive a
pension equal to such parent's weekly worker's compensation converted to an
annual basis. The parent's pension shall begin upon termination of the statutory
period for payment of the parent's worker's compensation and shall continue until
the earlier of remarriage or death;
(e) In no case shall the sum of the annual benefits provided in paragraphs
(b), (c) and (d) of this section exceed the greater of (i) $4,800 and (ii) 2
percent of the deceased member's or retired member's final average compensation
multiplied by the member's or retired member's credited service not to exceed
37.5 years;
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Retirement Date
Percentage
of Annual
_Benefit
Survivor Pension; Only One Pension Payable.
Section 34. No pension payments shall be made under the provisions of Sections
29 and 30 if any pension is or will be paid under the provisions of Sections 31
and 32. No pension payments shall be made under the provisions of Sections 29,
30, 31 and 32 if any pension is or will be paid under the provisions of Section
33.
Post-Retirement Benefit Increases
Section 35. Each monthly pension which becomes effective on or after January 1,
1969 shall be redetermined each May 1 that is at least 12 full months after the
effective date of the pension. The redetermined amount shall be the amount of
the pension otherwise payable increased by 1.5 percent for each full year between
the effective date of the pension and the date of redetermination. The redeter-
mined amount shall not exceed the amount resulting from multiplying (a) times (b)
and dividing the product by (c), where
- (a) is the amount of the pension otherwise payable,
- (b) is the average of the C. P. I. - W for the calendar year immediately
preceding the date of the redetermination, and
- (c) is the average of the C. P. I. - W for the calendar year immediately
preceding the effective date of the pension.
The redetermined amount shall not be less than the amount of the pension
otherwise payable. "The amount of the pension otherwise payable" means the
monthly amount of pension which would be payable disregarding these provisions
redetermining benefit amounts after retirement. "C. P. I. - W" means the
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers - United States
City Average as determined by the United States Department of Labor and in effect
for January 1988. If the C. P. I. - W is restructured after 1988 in a manner
materially changing its character, the Retirement Commission, after receiving the
advice of the actuary, shall change the application of the C. P. I. W so that,
as far as is practicable, the general effect of using the restructured C. P. I.
W shall be similar to the general effect of using the C. P. I. - W before
restructuring.
July 1990 Special Payment.
Section 35.1. Retirees receiving benefits prior to July 1, 1989, and who have
continually received benefits through July 1, 1990, shall receive a one time
payment equal to a percentage of their annual benefit as of July 1, 1990 as
expressed in the following:
1967 and Prior 10%
1968 through 1969 9%
1970 through 1972 8%
1973 through 1985 2%
1986 through 6-30-89 1%
Guaranteed Minimum Aggregate Payout.
Section 36. If all pension payments permanently terminate before there has been
paid an aggregate amount equal to the retired member's, deceased member's, or
deceased vested former member's accumulated member contributions at time of
retirement, the difference between the amount of accumulated member contributions
and the aggregate amount of pension payments made shall be paid to such indi-
vidual or individuals as the former member may have named on a form provided by
and filed with the retirement system. If no such named individual survives, the
difference shall be paid to the legal representative of the last to survive of
the individual who was being paid a pension or the named individuals.
Pensions; Application for.
Section 37. The date of a member's retirement shall be not less than 30 days nor
more than 90 days after the member files with the Retirement Commission, on forms
provided by the Board, a written application for retirement.
Pensions; Payment of.
Section 38. All payments from the retirement system shall be made according to
the provisions of law, this resolution and procedures approved by the Retirement
Commission.
Pensions; Commencement, Duration and Change.
Section 39. (a) A normal or disability pension shall commence on the date of the
member's or vested former member's retirement. A survivor pension for a member
who died while employed by the County shall commence on the day following the
member's death. A survivor pension for a vested former member shall commence
on the date the vested former member would have been eligible to retire
(Section 21) based upon the credited service and retirement provisions in effect
on the date of the member's death. A post-retirement survivor pension shall
commence the day following the retired member's death.
(b) Pensions are paid in 12 equal installments on the last day
of each month. If the commencement date of a pension is not the first day of a
calendar month, the amount of the first pension payment shall be pro-rated in
proportion to the number of days between the commencement date and the last day
of the calendar month containing the commencement date.
(c) A pension shall terminate at the end of the calendar month
in which the event causing the termination occurred. Payment for the month of
termination shall be pro-rated in proportion to the number of days between the
first day of the calendar month and day on which the terminating event occurred.
(d) A change in the amount of a pension shall occur, if not
specified elsewhere, on the first day of the calendar month next following the
date of the event causing the change.
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Denial of Claim for Benefits; Appeal -', Retirement Commission.
Section 40. A benefit claimant shall be notified in writing, within 30 days, of
a denial of a claim for benefits. The notification shall contain the basis for
denial. The benefit claimant may appeal the denial and request a hearing before
the Retirement Commission. The appeal shall be in writing and filed with the
retirement system within 90 days of the date of the notification of denial. The
request for appeal shall contain a statement of the claimant's reasons for
believing the denial to be improper. The Retirement Commission shall schedule
a hearing of the appeal within 60 days of receipt of the request for appeal.
Retirement Commission; Authority and Responsibility.
Section 41. The administration, management and responsibility for the proper
operation of the retirement system, and for interpreting and making effective the
provisions of the retirement resolution are vested in a Retirement Commission.
Retirement Commission; Composition of.
Section 42. The Retirement Commission shall consist of the following nine
individuals:
(a) The chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners by virtue of that
office;
(b) The County Executive by virtue of that office;
(c) The chairperson of the County Finance Committee by virtue of that
office;
(d) The County Treasurer by virtue of that office;
(e) A citizen, who is an elector in Oakland County who is not eligible for
membership in the retirement system or benefits under the retirement system and
who does not hold any other office or appointment with the County, to be selected
by the Board of County Commissioners.
(f) Three members of the retirement system who are not elected officials,
to be elected by the members of the retirement system. The three Commissioners
shall be from different County departments.
(g) A retired member of the retirement system who resides in Oakland County,
to be elected by the retired members of the retirement system.
The Retirement Commission shall establish rules and regulations for elections
required by paragraph (f) and (g).
Retirement Commission; Term of Office; Oath of Office; Vacancies.
Section 43._ (a) The term of office of the member elected Commissioners shall be
4 years. The term office of the citizen Commissioner shall be 4 years, one term
expiring each year. The term office of the retired member Commissioner shall be
2 years.
(b) Each Commissioner shall, prior to taking office, take an oath of office
administered by the County Clerk.
(c) A vacancy shall occur on the Retirement Commission if a member elected
Commissioner ceases to be a member. A vacancy shall occur on the Retirement
Commission if a Commissioner resigns. If a member elected Commissioner becomes
employed in the same County department as another member elected Commissioner,
the transferring Commissioner shall be considered to have resigned. A vacancy
shall occur if at any time the Retirement Commission determines that a Commis-
sioner does not meet the requirements specified in Section 42 for his or her
position on the Retirement Commission. A vacancy shall be filled within 90 days,
for the unexpired term, in the same manner as the position was previously filled.
Retirement Commission Meetings; Quorum; Voting; Record of Proceedings.
Section 44. (a) The Retirement Commission shall hold meetings regularly, at
least one in each calendar month and shall designate the time and place thereof.
All meetings of the Retirement Commission shall be public. Notice of the
meetings will be posted in the County building prior to the meeting date.
(b) Five attending commissioners shall constitute a quorum at any meeting
of the Retirement Commission.
(c) Each attending commissioner shall be entitled to 1 vote on each question
before the Retirement Commission. At least 4 concurring votes shall be required
for a valid action by the Retirement Commission.
(d) The Retirement Commission shall adopt its own rules of procedure and
shall keep a written record of its proceedings.
Retirement Commission; Officers; Services.
Section 45. (a) The Retirement Commission shall elect from its membership a
chairperson and a vice chairperson.
(b) The Retirement Commission shall appoint an individual who shall be the
secretary to the Retirement Commission and the administrative officer of the
retirement system.
(c) The County Treasurer shall be the treasurer of the retirement system.
The treasurer shall be custodian of the assets of the retirement system except
as to such assets as the Retirement Commission may from time to time place in the
custody of a nationally chartered bank or trust company.
(d) The Corporation Counsel shall be legal advisor to the Retirement
Commission.
(e) The Retirement Commission shall designate as the medical director a
physician who is not eligible to participate in the retirement system as a
member, retired member or beneficiary. The medical director shall hold office
at the pleasure of the Commission.
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(f) The Retirement Commission shall designate an actuary who shall advise
the Board on the actuarial operation of the retirement system. Actuary shall
mean a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. A partnership or corporation
—ay be designated as actuary if the duties of actuary are performed by or under
the direct supervision of an individual who meets the preceding requirement.
(g) The Retirement Commission is authorized and empowered to employ such
professional and other services as it requires for the proper discharge of its
responsibilities. Such services shall be engaged and compensated in the same
manner that s ..milar services are engaged and compensated by other departments of
the County. The Retirement Commission lay utilize the services of County
employees if made available.
Retirement Commission; Reports.
Section 46. The Retirement Commission shall prepare an annual report for each
fiscal year. The annual report shall contain information about the financial,
actuarial and other activities of the retirement system during the fiscal year.
A copy of the annual report shall be furnished the Board of County Commissioners.
The Retirement Commission shall furnish the Board of County Commissioners such
other information about the retirement system as the Board of County Commis-
sioners may from time to time request.
Retirement Commission; Investment Authority and Restrictions.
Section 47. The Retirement Commission is the trustee of the monies and assets
of the retirement system. The Retirement Commission has the authority and power
to invest and re-invest the monies and assets of the retirement system subject
to all terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions imposed by the State of
Michigan on the investments of public employee retirement systems. The Retire-
ment Commission shall have full power to hold, sell, assign, transfer and dispose
of any securities of the retirement system. The Retirement Commission may employ
investment counsel to advise the Board in the making and disposition of invest-
ments.
In exercising its discretionary authority with respect to the management of the
monies and assets of the retirement system, the Retirement Commission shall
exercise the care, skill, prudence. and diligence, under the circumstances then
prevailing, that an individual of prudence acting in a like capacity and familiar
with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of like character and
similar objectives.
Retirement Commission; Use of Monies and Assets; Prohibited Actions.
Section 48. (a) All monies and assets of the retirement system shall be held and
invested for the sole purpose of meeting the legitimate obligations of the
retirement system and shall be used for no other purpose.
(b) Members of the Retirement Commission and its employees are prohibited
from:
(1) Having a beneficial interest, direct or indirect, in an investment
of the retirement system.
(2) Borrowing money or assets of the retirement system.
(3) Receiving any pay or emolument from any individual or organization
providing services to the retirement system other than compensation for personal
services or reimbursement of authorized expenses paid by the retirement system.
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Retirement Commission; Compensation.
Section 49. The Commissioners, except for the employee member Commissioners and
the retired member Commissioner, shall be paid A per diem for attending meetings
of the Commission. All Commissioners shall be reimbursed for the actual and
necessary expenses they incur in performing their duties as Commissioners.
Retirement Commission; Experience Tables and Regular Interest.
Section 50. The Retirement Commission shall from time to time adopt such
mortality and other tables of experience, and a rate or rates of regular
interest, as are necessary in the proper operation of the retirement system on
an actuarial basis.
Financial Objective of the Retirement System; County Contributions.
Section 51. (a) The financial objective of the retirement system is to receive
contributions each fiscal year which are sufficient to (i) fund the actuarial
cost of benefits likely to be paid on account of credited service earned by
members during the fiscal year, and (ii) fund the unfunded actuarial cost of
benefits likely to be paid on account of credited service earned by members prior
to the fiscal year over a period of not more than 40 years.
Contribution requirements shall be determined by annual actuarial valuation using
a generally recognized level percent of payroll actuarial cost method.
(b) The Retirement Commission shall certify to the Board of County Commis-
sioners the amount of annual contribution needed to meet the financial objective
and the Board of County Commissioners shall appropriate and cause the contribu-
tion to be paid to the retirement system.
Member Contributions; Amounts.
Section 52. Member contributions, if any, shall be as provided by County Board
of Commissioners Resolutions.
Member Contributions; Refunds.
Section 53. (a) An individual's accumul -tA member contributions shall be
refunded if the following conditions are met:
(1) Membership in the retirement system has been terminated for at
least 30 days, or the individual has been laid off for at least 30 days;
(2) The individual has not met the applicable age and service condition
for normal retirement (Section 18);
(3) A disability pension (Sections 24 - 26) is not payable or being
paid to the individual;
(4) A non-duty survivor pension (Sections 29-32) is not payable or
being paid_on the individual's behalf.
(5)The individual makes application for the refund on a form provided
by and filed with the retirement system.
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(b) If an individual dies and no pension becomes or will become pay,312 on
account of the death, the individual's accumulated member contributions shall be
refunded in accordance with the deceased individual's instructions made on a form
provided by and filed with the retirement system. If there be no such instruc-
tions or if the individuals iho are to be paid the refund no longer live, the
accumulated member contributions shall be refunded to the legal representative
of the deceased individual.
(c) Payments of refunds of accumulated contributions, as provided for in
this resolution, may be made in monthly installments according to such rules and
regulations as the Retirement Commission shall from time to time -dopt.
(d) Exce2t as otherwise provided in this resolution, after 3 years from the
date an employee ceases to be a member, my balance of accumulated contributions
standing to the member's credit, in the reserve for accumulated member con-
tributions unclaimed by the member or the :limber's legal representative, shall
be transferred to the reserve for undistributed investment income.
Reserve for Accumulated Member Contributions.
Section 54. (a) The reserve for accumulated member contributions is the account
in which is accumulated the member contributions deducted from the compensation
of members and which shall be charged with refunds of accumulated member
contributions and transfers of accumulated member contributions as provided in
this resolution. Continuation of employment by the member shall constitute
consent and agreement to the deduction of the applicable member contribution, if
any. Payment of compensation less the deduction shall be full and complete
discharge of all claims and demands for compensation for personal service
rendered the County except as to benefits provided in this resolution. Compensa-
tion before deduction of any member contributions shall be considered the
member's compensation for purposes of satisfying minimum compensation require-
ments.
(b) The officer or officers responsible for preparing the payroll shall
certify to the Retirement Commission on each payroll the amount of contribution
to be deducted from the compensation of each member. Each of these amounts shall
be deducted, and when deducted shall be paid to the retirement system. Each such
amount shall be credited to the account of the individual member from whose
compensation the deduction was made.
(c) A member's accumulated contributions shall be transferred from the
reserve for accumulated member contributions to the reserve for pension paymeots
If a pension becomes payable on account of the member's retirement or death.
Reserve for Pension Payments.
Section 55. (a) The reserve for pension payments is the account which is
credited with transfers from the reserve for accumulated member contributions and
the reserve for employer contributions and which is charged with all pension
payments and refunds of accumulated member contributions which have been
transferred to this account.
(b) If a disability pension is terminated and the individual again becomes
a member or becomes a vested former member, any excess of the accumulated member
contributions transferred to this account as a result of the disability retire-
ment over the aggregate amount of pension paid shall be transferred to the
reserve for member contributions.
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(c) Each year following receipt of the report of the ,ilual actuarial
valuation, if the balance in the reserve for pension payments h less than the
actuarial present value of pensions being paid retired members and beneficiaries,
a transfer of the difference between the present value and the reserve balance
shall be authorized from the reserve for employer contributions. The pending
transfer shall be taken into account by the actuary when making the actuarial
ialuation. If the balance in the reserve for pension payments is greater than
the actuarial present value of pensions being paid, the Retirement Commission
may, in its discretion, authorize a transfer of not more shan the difference
between the reserve balance and the present value to the reserve for employer
contributions.
Reserve for Employer Contributions.
Section 56. The reserve for employer contributions is the account to which is
credited County contributions and from ,hich shall be made transfers to the
reserve for pension payments.
Reserve for Undistributed Investment Income.
Section 57. The reserve for undistributed investment income is the account to
which is credited all interest, dividends, and other income from retirement
system assets, all gifts and bequests, and, all other monies received by the
retirement system the disposition of which is not specifically provided. There
shall be transferred from this reserve account all amounts required to credit
interest to the other reserve accounts. Any balance remaining after interest has
been credited to the other reserve accounts shall be transferred to the reserve
for employer contributions.
Reserve for Administrative Expenses.
Section 58. (a) The reserve for administrative expenses is the account to which
shall be credited all money provided by the County to pay the administrative
expenses of the retirement system and to which shall be charged all budgeted and
authorized administrative expenses.
(b) Whenever the Retirement Commission determines the balance in the
account is more than sufficient to cover current charges, the excess of any part
thereof may be used to fund contingency reserves or meet special requirements of
the other reserve accounts. Whenever the balance in the account is insufficient
to cover current charges, the amount of the insufficiency shall be transferred
to the account from the reserve for employer contributions.
Assets not Segregated.
Section 5. The descriptions of the reserve accounts shall be interpreted to
refer to the account records of the retirement system and not to the segregation
of monies or assets by reserve account.
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Interest Credited to Reserve Accounts.
Section 60. (a) The Retirement Commission shall annually credit interest on the
Individual beginning of year balances in the reserve for accumulated member
contributions, and on the mean balance in each of the other reserves of the
Retirement System for the preceding fiscal year. No interest shall be credited
to the balances in the reserve for accumuld member contributions for members
whose County employment has terminated by the end of the year unless the Aember
Is a vested former member. The amounts of interest so credited shall be charged
to the reserve for undistributed investment income.
(b) The Retirement Commission shall determine the rate or rates of interest
to be used for crediting of interest.
Assignments Prohibited.
Section 61. (a) The right of an individual to a pension, to a refund of
accumulated member contributions, the pension itself, or any other right accrued
or accruing to any individual, and the monies and assets of the retirement
system, shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation
of bankruptcy or insolvency law, or other process of law, except as provided in
Section 62 (b) or as specifically required by State of Michigan or Federal law
and shall be unassignable except as provided in Section 61 (b) or as required by
State of Michigan or Federal law.
(b) If an individual is covered under a group insurance or prepayment plan
participated in by the County, and makes a permitted election to continue such
coverage as a retired member or as a beneficiary, the individual may authorize
the Retirement Commission to deduct from the individual's allowance payments
required to continue coverage under such group insurance or prepayment plan.
Subrogation; Right of Setoff.
Section 62. (a) If an individual or an individual's estate or beneficiary
becomes entitled to a pension, or any other benefit payable upon retirement, by
the County or the Oakland County Employees' Retirement System (the "System") as
the result of an accident or injury caused by the act or omission of any third
party(s), the County and the System shall be subrogated to the rights of said
individual against such third party(s) to the extent of the benefits the County
and the System pays or becomes liable to pay, either to or on behalf of an
employee, retired member, and/or beneficiary. For the purposes of this section,
the subrogation rights of the County and the System extend to and include the
actuarially determined, present day value of all payments and benefits which the
County or the System either pays, provides for in a reserve account, or becomes
liable to pay, either to, or on behalf of, an employee, retired member, and/or
beneficiary. The County and the System shall be subrogated to any and all rights
to, or recovery of, damages (including actual, consequential, or punitive
damages, and costs or fees) by an employee, retired member, and/or beneficiary
from any third party(s) even where the damages recoverable from a third party(s)
were not for the same items of injury as those for which the County of Oakland
and the System benefits t,ere paid, provided for in reserve, or payable. Upon
request, the employee, retired member, _nd/or beneficiary will execute and
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deliver to the County and the System an assignment and/or such other instruments
that may be required and do whatever else is necessary to secure such rights for
the County and the System. If an individual (or his or her beneficiary) becomes
entitled to a pension or eny other benefit payable upon retirement, by the County
or the System, as the result of an accident or injury caused by the act or omis-
sion of any third perty(s), such individual (or his or her beneficiary or estate)
shall not commence or institute any claim or ection against the third party(s)
without (1) prior written notice to the County and the System, (2) permitting the
County and/or the System, within their discretion, to join such claim or action
(as its interest appears by reason of this section), and (3) assigning all or a
portion of any recovery from such claim or action to the County and/or the
System, as provided above, in order to effectuate the purposes of this section.
The claimant(s) in such claim or action shall at all times dvise the County and
System of the nature of the cleim and action, the defenses esserted, the ongoing
status of the claim and action, and all settlement discussions and negotiations.
The claimant(s) shall promptly furnish the County and System with copies of all
relevant court papers, pleadings, medical reports, and other such documents. The
claimants shall not release, settle, waive, or modify any such claim without the
prior written consent of the County and System. Failure to comply with the
requirements set forth in this Section 62(a) shall (1) constitute a waiver of all
rights and a release of all claims, up to the amount of the claim, by an
employee, retired member, or beneficiary to a pension or other benefits from the
County and the System (which waiver shall be effective notwithstanding the prior
commencement of benefit payments), and (2) give to the County and System, in
addition to all other rights available to them in law or equity, the right of
recovery against the employee, retired member, his estate, or beneficiary, as to
any monies previously paid. In no event, All the subrogation (or waiver and
release) provided for herein reduce any benefit to which the employee, retired
member, beneficiary, or estate, but for a disability may be eligible.
(b) The retirement system shall have the right of setoff to recover over-
payments made by the retirement system and the County shall have the right of
setoff to satisfy any claim arising from embezzlement or fraud committed by a
member, retired member, vested former member, beneficiary, or other individual
having a claim to benefits.
Correct ion r___- UVIrecLiUn in Errors.
Section 63. The Retirement Commission shall correct errors in the records of the
retirement system.- The Retirement Commission shall seek to recover overpayments
and shall make up underpayments. Recovery of overpayments may be accomplished
by reducing the amount of future payments so that the actuarial present value of
actual payments to the recipient is equal to the actuarial present value of the
payments to which the recipient was correctly entitled.
Internal Revenue Code Qualification.
Section 64. (a) The County intends the retirement system to be a qualified
pension plan under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, or
successor provisions of law, and that the trust be an exempt organization under
Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Retirement Commission may adopt,
or recommend to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption, such additional
provisions to the retirement system as are necessary to fulfill this intent.
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(b) Retirement benefits provided under this Resolution shall not exceed
the governmental plan limits set forth in Internal Revenue Coca Section 415 and
7—ilings pertaining thereto.
Fraud P.:malty.
Section 65. Whoever with intent to deceive shall make any statement o. report
under this resolution which is untrue, or shall falsify or :lermit to be falsified
any record or records of the retirement system, or who shall otherwise violate
the provisions of this resolution as it may from time to time be amended, with
intent to deceive, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be
fined not to exceed $500, or shall be imprisoned for not to exceed 90 days, or
both, in the discretion of the court, together with payment of costs of prosecu-
tion.
Severability.
Section 66. If any section or part of a section of this resolution is for any
reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such holding shall not be
construed as affecting the validity of the remaining sections of the resolution
or the resolution in its entirety.
Repeal.
Section 67. All resolutions or other provisions of law inconsistent with the
provisions of this resolution are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsis-
tency as far as authority is vested in the Board of Commissioners to repeal same.
Headings.
Section 68. The heading of any section of these rules that precedes the section
number shall in no way be deemed to be a part of that section or of this
resolution, nor be used to construe this section more broadly or narrowly than
the text of the section would indicate, but shall be deemed to be inserted only
for the purposes of convenience to persons using this resolution.
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