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Darien board backs hours-based rule for rehired retirees, declines full‑time pension exemption
Summary
The Board of Selectmen voted to follow the Town Administrator’s recommendation to permit retirees to be reemployed up to an average of 20 hours per week without suspension of pension benefits and to reject the Darien Police Association’s request to allow full‑time rehiring without benefit suspension.
The Darien Board of Selectmen on March 9 voted unanimously to provide guidance to adopt an hours‑based standard for rehiring retirees, allowing reemployed retirees to work an average of up to 20 hours per week annually without suspending pension payments.
Town Administrator Jennifer Charneski told the board that the current test — suspending pensions when rehire earnings exceed one‑third of prior salary — is hard to administer and can produce inconsistent outcomes. She recommended substituting an averaging rule tied to hours, saying the approach “maintains the ‘part‑time’ nature of post‑retirement work and avoids triggering mandatory pension participation, MERA collective bargaining rights, or ACA benefit eligibility.”
The change endorsed by the board would require conforming edits to Section 50‑98 of the Town Code and corresponding plan provisions; staff will draft the language for review by the Pension Committee, the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting if the board proceeds.
The Darien Police Association, represented in public comment by Sergeant Christopher Jimenez and in a written memo, urged a broader change to permit retired officers to return to non‑sworn roles on a full‑time basis while continuing to receive pension benefits. The DPA memo argued that retired officers “bring decades of experience,” offer “immediate effectiveness” and reduce training and overtime costs by filling difficult positions such as telecommunicators and school security officers.
Charneski and staff said a municipal survey showed full‑time rehiring without suspension is uncommon in Connecticut: of roughly 74 municipalities examined, only four permit continued pension payments for rehired full‑time employees. The report also noted recent successful recruitments for telecommunicator and SSO positions, which staff said reduces the operational need to change existing pension rules.
The board adopted a motion to provide guidance consistent with the Town Administrator’s recommendation; the motion was made by Selectman Mike Burke, seconded by Selectman Sarah Neumann, and the vote was recorded as Yea: Zagrodzky, Burke, McNally, Minnick, Neumann.
Next steps outlined in staff materials include drafting conforming changes to the Town Code and pension plan documents and review by the Pension Committee and other governing bodies. If the board instead had chosen to pursue the DPA approach, staff said further research would be required regarding IRS tax qualification, bargaining obligations and safeguards to protect the plan’s tax‑qualified status.
