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An ordinance amending Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code to delete obsolete provisions and add certain Department of Emergency Communications employees to the Fire and Police Service Pension Plan.
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WHEREAS, the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County has adopted a system of employee benefits which includes pension benefits for employees and officers; and,
WHEREAS, in its February 17, 2021 Final Report, the Study & Formulating Committee recommended that certain Department of Emergency Communications (“DEC”) personnel be aligned to the public safety pension plan; and,
WHEREAS, the recommendation of the Study & Formulating Committee applies to the following eight DEC positions: (i) Emergency Telecommunication Officer Trainee; (ii) Emergency Telecommunication Officer 1; (iii) Emergency Telecommunication Officer 2; (iv) Emergency Telecommunication Officer 3; (v) Emergency Telecommunication Officer 4; (vi) Emergency Telecommunication Trainer; (vii) Emergency Telecommunication Supervisor; and (viii) Emergency Telecommunication Manager; and,
WHEREAS, at its June 1, 2021 meeting, the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board unanimously approved the recommendation of the Study & Formulating Committee that certain DEC personnel be aligned to the public safety pension plan; and,
WHEREAS, an actuarial study of the recommended pension modification to add DEC telecommunication employees to the Fire and Police Service Pension Plan has been performed; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Law recommends that the obsolete language requiring compulsory retirement also be deleted from the Metropolitan Code; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Metropolitan Government to implement the recommendations made by the Study & Formulating Committee and approved by the Benefit Board regarding service pension benefits for DEC emergency telecommunication employees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. Section 3.08.010 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding the following new definition:
“Emergency communications officer” means an eligible employee in the Department of Emergency Communications during the time that the eligible employee holds the position of Emergency Telecommunication Officer Trainee, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 1, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 2, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 3, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 4, Emergency Telecommunication Trainer, Emergency Telecommunication Supervisor, or Emergency Telecommunication Manager. This definition of “emergency communications officer” shall apply to a member who is a metropolitan employee on or after December 1, 2021.
Section 2. Section 3.08.010 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “current police and fire service” in its entirety and adding the following new definition:
"Current police and fire service" means all continuous, uninterrupted service after April 1, 1963, of an eligible employee during which time he is a fireman, policeman, sheriff's officer, or an emergency communications officer and is a member.
With regard to a member who was not a metropolitan employee on or after May 1, 2008, "current police and fire service" means all continuous, uninterrupted service after April 1, 1963, of an eligible employee during which time he is a fireman, policeman, or correctional officer and is a member.
Section 3. Section 3.36.020 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting subsection A in its entirety and renumbering the remaining subsections accordingly.
Section 4. Section 3.37.020 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting subsection A in its entirety and renumbering the remaining subsections accordingly.
Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance amends Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to make certain Department of Emergency Communications positions eligible for the Fire and Police Service Pension Plan.
The Study & Formulating Committee recommended that eight Department of Emergency Communications positions be aligned to the public safety pension plan. These eight positions are Emergency Telecommunication Officer Trainee, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 1, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 2, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 3, Emergency Telecommunication Officer 4, Emergency Telecommunication Trainer, Emergency Telecommunication Supervisor, or Emergency Telecommunication Manager. This applies to a member who is a Metro employee on or after December 1, 2021. The Employee Benefit Board approved this recommendation at its June 1, 2021 meeting. An actuarial study of the recommended pension modification adding these DEC positions has been performed.
This ordinance further deletes obsolete language regarding compulsory retirement in various provisions of Title 3.
Fiscal Note: The actuarial study estimated the increase in total plan liabilities for the current active members in the applicable positions within the Department of Emergency Communications to be $11,200,000. The additional contribution of 0.172% of total covered payroll, if continued in perpetuity, is expected to fully amortize the cost of the additional benefit for the active members as well as provide for the increased future benefit for any new members hired in the applicable positions.