592.2005
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 701 AND 706
OF TOWN OF QUEENSBURY EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK TO CLARIFY
RETIREMENT ISSUES
RESOLUTION NO.: 592, 2005
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Daniel Stec
WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury offers its employees retirement plan benefits under the
New York State Employees’ Local Retirement System consistent with the Agreement between the
Town and the Town of Queensbury Unit of the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., (CSEA),
and
WHEREAS, under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Town continues to provide
group health insurance for any covered Town employee retiring at age 55 and older pursuant to the
New York State and Local Retirement System with at least ten (10) years of service to the Town, until
the death of such employee, provided that the retired employee contributes toward the premium of
such health insurance in the same amount as required by the Town for other employees then employed,
and provides continued group health insurance coverage for such employee’s surviving spouse for an
additional six (6) month period, and
WHEREAS, similarly, the Town of Queensbury provides ongoing health insurance benefits for
full-time employees who retire from the Town of Queensbury who are 55 years of age or older, eligible
to receive a pension from the New York State and Local Retirement System and have at least ten (10)
years of service with the Town, and allows a surviving spouse to receive such benefits for an additional
six (6) month period, and
WHEREAS, the Town regularly offers all elected officials and full-time Non-Union employees
group health insurance coverage, and
WHEREAS, although it has been the longstanding practice of the Town to provide health
insurance retirement benefits to elected officials, this is not clear from the language of the Town of
Queensbury Employee Handbook which refers only to retired employees without reference to elected
officials, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury Employee Handbook is also vague regarding accrual of
vacation for retiring employees in that generally vacation accruals are credited on the employee’s
anniversary date of hire and the Town Employee Handbook does not address computation and accrual
where the employee retires other than on or near their anniversary date, and
WHEREAS, if employees are not credited with the pro rata amount of vacation leave earned
after their anniversary date, this may serve as a disincentive for an employee to continue working past
their anniversary date in the year they intend to retire,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes the amendment of the
Town of Queensbury’s Employee Handbook Section 701 so that the first paragraph reads as follows:
“1. The Town offers all elected officials and full-time, Non-Union employees the
opportunity to enroll in their choice of the Town’s group health insurance offerings. Coverage is
Throughout this section, the term
offered for spouses and dependent children of full-time employees.
“employees” shall include all elected officials.”
and,
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the amendment of the Town of
Queensbury’s Employee Handbook Section 706 so that second paragraph, section 6 reads as follows:
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“6. Any employee who is terminated, laid off, resigns or retires from the Town will be
cash
entitled to receive payment, as additional compensation, for unused vacation which he/she
had previously earned and which had been credited prior to the effective date of termination.
Such employees shall receive pro rata credit for earned vacation leave between the
anniversary date and the last date of employment.
”
and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor
and/or Town Budget Officer to sign any documentation and take any and all action necessary to
effectuate all terms of this Resolution, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to
distribute copies of this Resolution to all Town Departments and amend the Employee Handbook
accordingly.
th
Duly adopted this 19 day of December, 2005 by the following vote:
AYES : Mr. Turner, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Boor
NOES : None
ABSENT : None
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