Council approves 60 percent cap on pensions
Kamenetz version of bill approved; Bartenfelder bill fails
By Bryan P. Sears, bsears@patuxent.com
Posted 1/19/10
A competing bill sponsored by Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder, considered by some to be more comprehensive, was essentially killed by a procedural vote.
The council approved Kamenetz's bill by a vote of 6-1.
"It's fair, it's not punitive and it will pass legal muster," Kamenetz said after the meeting.
Bartenfelder voted against Kamenetz's bill.
Under Bartenfelder’s proposal, council members would have continued to contribute about 14 percent of their salary into the pension system, and would still be eligible for 5 percent of their salary for each year they serve in office. But the pension would be capped at a total of 60 percent of their salary — regardless of the number of terms they serve.
The change would not be retroactive, though. Any council member with more than three terms would be exempt from this provision.
The bill also sought to change the age at which a member could begin collecting the pension — from age 55 to 60. However, council members with four or more terms would be eligible to collect their pension at age 55, but 5 percent per year would be deducted for the early draw.
Kamenetz said he did not believe Bartenfelder's bill would survive a challenge under federal pension law.
Bartenfelder said he had a legal opinion from the county Office of Law that said both his bill and Kamenetz's bill were legally sound. He said he believed his colleagues tabled his bill "because it affects people who were here."
Bartenfelder offered three sets of amendments that, if approved, would have changed Kamenetz's bill into his own bill.
The amendments included language to relink the council and executive pension plans; changing the ages at which council members could begin collecting pensions, and imposing a penalty for collecting a pension before age 55 or before a council member completed 16 years of service.
Bartenfelder said he offered the amendments individually so that if his colleagues objected to parts of his bill they would have the option to incorporate other portions.
But the council members instead adopted to accept Kamenetz’s version on its own.
user comments (5)
user independent says...
Vote them out. How many of the citizens who pay these people's pensions have a deal like that? Vote them all out.
Posted 7:17 AM, 01.20.10
user stevewhisler says...
I am amazed that Progressives on the Council still allow themselves a lucrative 60% pension after serving just 12 years in a part-time job. Not a single part-time county employee would ever receive similar benefits. Our founders intended elected office to be "public service." We should also ask why elected council members receive lucrative healthcare-for-life benefits ... why they earn $54K to $60K annually when a delegate to Annapolis makes $43K ... why elected officials can collect multiple pensions by moving on to even higher office ... why our County Executive, who represents just 14% of the state's population, is paid $150K annually -- the same pay given to our state's governor. hat happened to the notion of public service? Instead we have career politicians who do little to think about future generations and much more about how to line their own pockets and dole out our tax dollars to special interest for campaign contributions and votes in the next election.
Posted 11:12 AM, 01.20.10
user stevebaileytowson says...
Every member of the Baltimore County council who voted in favor of the Kamenetz bill, voted to exempt himself from any pension reform. This scandal started when the Sun reported that Councilman Vince Gardina plans to retire next year at age 53 and begin collecting a (100% of his salary) $54,000 per year for the rest of his life. The law just passed keeps that gold-plated, Wall Street, pension plan in place for all existing council members. Every council member who voted for this bill, voted to line his own pockets at taxpayer expense. Kevin Kamenetz is an undeclared candidate for Baltimore County Executive. His bill fails to close the loophole that will allow him to collect a pension of $108,000 per year for the rest of his life if he or councilman, Joe Bartenfelder, serves two terms as County Executive. Kamenetz (age 54) championed a bill that potentially will pay him more than $2,000,000 in retirement benefits ($108,000 x 20 years) and he plans on sticking the taxpayer with the bill. Where are the County Council and County Executive candidates who will stand up for the taxpayer, enact real reform, and pledge to refuse to participate in this pension plan if elected? If the members of the Baltimore County council won't replace their pension plan, maybe it's time to replace the members of the Baltimore County council.
Posted 12:04 PM, 01.20.10
user hadenough says...
Let's think of the situation as akin to the NFL salary cap. The Ravens couldn't afford Stover or Scott. They still made the playoffs. We the citizens of Baltimore County cannot afford to pay these men a million dollars over the course of their lives. It is very simple. If they aren't going to have the decency to exampt themselves from this self appointed golden parachute, then we the voters must. Their performance is irrelevant. We can't afford them. Vote them all out.
Posted 3:20 PM, 01.20.10
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