LB volunteer firefighters hit with loss of pension time

Published 5:00 pm Monday, March 18, 2013

LONG BEACH An investigation slowly smoldering since the fall of 2011 flamed up last week when 60 current and retired Long Beach volunteers or their families were notified they are losing time previously counted toward eligibility for pensions. A few will have to repay thousands in alleged overpayments.

It isnt widely realized outside volunteer fire departments that those who serve 25 years or more earn a small monthly pension starting at age 65. In a typical local example, a 25-year volunteer receives $228 a month. The loss of a year of recorded service means a monthly payment of 165.30, a 27.5 percent reduction.

In total, overpayments in this case totaled $25,083. The impact will be more felt in the form of lost credit toward future pensions.

A retired Long Beach firefighter contacted Washingtons Board for Volunteer Firefighters & Reserve Officers (BVFF) after he became concerned that some getting pensions had not put in enough time to be eligible. This resulted in Long Beach Volunteer Fire Departments current Chief David Glasson combing through decades of records in response to BVFFs requests for supporting documents to prove who served and how long.

Glasson said Tuesday his and the citys main goals are to make certain all affected volunteers are notified and to help repair the situation in whatever ways they can. BVFF has sent letters to all those for whom it has addresses. But in some cases, former volunteers have long since moved from the city or state.

Volunteers impacted in different ways

BVFF Executive Secretary Brigette K. Smith wrote Glasson on March 7 with five lists of names of firefighters impacted in various ways as a result of the inquiry. She praised Glasson as having been very conscientious in his efforts in finding reports and documents. She noted most incorrect reporting occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s. One year of records, 1998, has not been located.

Allowing members [who arent present] to continue to accrue time towards their pension is gifting members with a state pension that they have not earned and do not deserve, Smith wrote Glasson.

The first list names 17 volunteers whose records showed they actually started service before the start date reported to BVFF. So they will have additional eligibility based on that time, usually by a month or two.

The second list includes 26 volunteers who left the Long Beach department but whose departure wasnt reported until the following annual remittance of pension funds by the city to BVFF. In the interest of privacy, the Chinook Observer is not reporting the names of affected firefighters and there is no indication any of them are personally culpable for pension-reporting errors. However, some public officials who served during the problematic reporting period are listed. Included on the second list is former Mayor Ken Ramsey, whose service ended June 24, 2003.

Members of third group, 33 in all, were reported for disability coverage but werent active enough to be eligible for pensions. These include Ken Ramsey for the year 1999, other members of the Ramsey family, and former Long Beach City administrator Nabiel Shawa for the years 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The fourth list of 31 names includes fire department members reported as being active when they, in fact, participated in no activities at all. On this list is former City Councilman Hal Norman for the years 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. He was incapacitated with cancer and recovering during part of this period. Also on the list is Shawa for the year 2004 and former City Councilman Jerry Zorich for the years from 1991 through 1996.

The fifth list of 15 volunteers includes instances when members took unreported leaves from service. These include Shawa for three periods in 1999, 2000 and 2003. The department can authorize leaves, but not for pension purposes, Smith wrote in her report to Glasson.

Widespread affects

A number of other city crewmembers, law officers, prominent local citizens and their families stand to be affected by the pension decision. BVFF notes they have a right to appeal or to provide alternate records to convince the board they were serving during a disputed period. Smith said she is unable to comment on whether any appeals have been filed. Those who are physically able can also still make up for the lost time by resuming or continuing volunteer services.

Glasson said he has already successfully challenged two of the alleged discrepancies and hopes to correct others. If firefighters of anyone else have questions or possible suggestions about how to verify an individual was serving during a disputed period, they should call Glasson at 642-4422. The complete list of names is available at City Hall.

This will come as a shock to a lot of them, Glasson noted. In some cases, individuals are dropping from time in service of a full 25 years to something in the range of 15, and will thus lose most of the pension they expected to have coming.

Currently there are no other fire departments in Pacific County being audited, Smith said. In general, its important that departments keep good records, and that they report their members in a timely fashion (both their entrance to and exit from the department).

The pension funds comes from a variety of sources, including an annual fee paid by the city to the BVFF based on a report from the fire department on how many volunteers are eligible. Another large source of funds is 40 percent of taxes on fire insurance premiums.