What's ahead in Wicomico retirement plans for law enforcement? Here's what's on table.

Kristian Jaime, Salisbury Daily Times
·3 min read

Possible changes to Wicomico County Employee Retirement Plans for sworn law enforcement officers sparked a lively debate before the County Council.

During an open work session at the Tuesday, April 4, legislative meeting, County Executive Julie Giordano presented some revisions to the county pension plan, a document with far-reaching implications in employee-based issues.

"For the past 3-4 weeks, we have meticulously gone through the document and met with pension attorneys and Fraternal Order of Police (representatives)," Giordano said. "The only three changes this administration has made are to be in adherence with previous rulings about the county pension, we'll recognize up to five years of military time for any employee, and finalized the 'drop' verbiage in the employee manual."

Under the "drop" option, sworn personnel are still working, but the money that would usually go into the pension or accidental disability fund goes into a savings account that earns 4%. Once they retire, they get that amount.

Here are the terms for the "drop" option:

  • An item negotiated with the Wicomico County Office of the Sheriff for sworn personnel at a minimum of 55 years of age, or who have amassed 25 years of service to the department.

  • The option is also extended to those with 20 years of service with a maximum of five years of military service credited to them if applicable.

  • A condition of "preretirement" takes effect if these individuals chose to take the option.

  • These "preretired" individuals still work and draw a paycheck, but they no longer contribute to the county pension or the Accidental Disability Account.

"While they are earning their paycheck, their monthly retirement payout is being held in a savings account that gains 4% interest. Once they fully retire, they will have access to that money. All this language has been updated based on the decisions of the County Council and language clarifications in the pension plan," Giordano said.

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Council president raises concens about employee input

County Council President John Cannon, while acknowledging there were only few changes, questioned if the county employees could have their input heard.

"I'm wondering if there's a website for retirees and employees for them to anonymously (or not) if they choose to include their input or ask how this will impact them," Cannon said. "This is a work session, so we're not going to decide anything right now, and I agree on how this is laid out. But you need to have public input and you'd be surprised how these questions come up."

Questions then persisted on those employees who fall under disability retirement, with Scott Hamilton, president of the Wicomico County Fraternal Order of Police, conceding language stipulates how those cases are to be handled at the pension level.

The point of contention came up regarding when an individual on disability retirement also draws a workman's compensation payout. Under the current 2021 collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, that sum is to be repaid back to the county.

"There is language that is very clear in the contract, but that language is also in dispute, and it wasn't agreed to by the parties involves. Some parties were not made aware of that language, and that's on the record and that's still ongoing," Hamilton said.

Hamilton also noted the aim of including the police organization and other county entities in the pension revision process was to have it mirror language found in the collective bargaining agreement for law enforcement employees.

The Wicomico County Council continues to review specific details of the proposed changes to the employee pension plan.

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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: What's ahead in Wicomico County retirement plans for law enforcement?