Always Read The Fine Print - And Response (3)

  • Thursday, November 20, 2014

So, Chief Dodd retired before 25 years of service and is angry that he's being charged a five percent fee for surviving spouse benefits, even though that change was enacted prior to his retiring? Well, welcome to the real world, Mr. Dodd. Always read the fine print.

City employees were also once able to carry their health insurance with them if they retired earlier than 25 years, but that changed too, with about the same amount of fanfare.  I'm sorry you hired in under a pension with certain nice benefits and some of them have changed or been reduced over the years, but welcome to the club and get in line.......and I'll give you a hint, it's a long line.

The city has been chipping away (legally, of course) at employee benefits for many years now and it's only going to get worse. You, along with hundreds of other employees, are just collateral damage in the city's quest for lowering costs and saving money on the backs of those least able to shoulder the load.  

In your case, you seem to be able to afford a lawyer and get more publicity from this legal chicanery than others in similar situations, but good luck fighting city hall, as the old saying goes.  

Herb Montgomery
Chattanooga 

* * * 

So Herb, you won’t mind if your Social Security payments are cut by five percent annually? 

Were you aware that police and fire employees in Chattanooga are not participants in Social Security? The funds deducted from their payroll checks for 25 to 30 years are deposited in a pension fund, and the city contributes their share of what would Social Security to the pension.   Then, their contribution accrues interest over that period.  

Most politicians will not touch Social Security because it would be the kiss of death politically. Political cowards like Lindsay Street often do their dirty deeds to employees during the first year of elected office.  

If the city cut your Social Security in the same manner police and fire pension was reduced, your letter would quite different in tone. 

The city must be held accountable to fundamental laws that have been violated. 

April Eidson

* * *

Mr. Montgomery might want to take his own advice and read the "fine print" or the article again.

The CPD and CFD require that an employee complete at least 25 years of employment to
receive a full pension and be eligible for insurance benefits.

I completed 25 years and six months to earn my full retirement, so you're getting some bad information from somewhere.

Case law and Appeals courts have ruled against arbitrary changes to a vested employees' benefits. As for the "real world", trust me...I can share plenty of real world stories with you.

Bobby Dodd

* * *

Direct quote from the article:

"The suit says...'The plaintiff retired shortly after this change without being aware of it and was only a few months from 25 years' employment at the time of his retirement.' "

Maybe Mr. Dodd should take his own advice and read the article again.

-Sam Horn

(Former Chief Dodd said the lawsuit is referring to the time the change was made. "I didn't have 25 years in when the pension board decided to change the plan (Jan 2013). I had 24 years and 7 months, so I couldn't retire for a few months when they took the option away. But I didn't retire until December 2013, with 25.5 years."

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