State law requires pension for former Lucerne County manager

Under Pennsylvania law, former Lucerne County manager Randy Robertson is required to receive a monthly pension of $191.68 after five months on the job.

The state’s County Pensions Act – Law 96 – requires a pension to be paid to retiring workers over 60, regardless of how long they have worked in the county, officials said.

At 68, Robertson was automatically eligible for a pension when he was hired based on his age.

As a general rule, employees must have five years of service in the county to be eligible or eligible for a pension.

County Comptroller Walter Griffith sent an email to the council on Wednesday afternoon, speaking of Robertson’s retirement and reiterating his past complaints about Robertson’s performance as manager.

Contacted on Wednesday, Robertson said he was told the amount of the pension is largely based on his decision to make his own payment up to the maximum allowable amount.

Another factor in determining the pension was his $181,500 annual compensation, officials said.

Robertson questioned why he is being criticized for the statutory pension and urged critics to push for changes to state law if they don’t think the provision is fair.

He started working as a top manager on June 13 last year. Citing family health concerns, he resigned on December 14. The council unanimously decided that his last day would be 18 November, although he was paid until 14 December.

The Over 60s Retirement Policy has been posted periodically by the county over the years, usually when a pension appears on the county’s pension board agenda for a new former employee.

In 2017, members of the pension board said that state legislators should consider such district pension law requirements to reduce the burden on taxpayers in the future.

For example, the previous county commissioner and sheriff were approved for a monthly pension of $71 for just two years of service in the county in 2012. According to the documents, the former director of purchasing was also eligible for the county’s monthly pension of $220 after three years of service.

Since Robertson’s pension is provided for by state law, a request to the county pension board to approve the payment was automatically generated without requiring Robertson to submit a request, officials said.

The Board of Pensions will meet today at 4:00 pm at the District Courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Remote access is not available.

The County Pension Fund relies on employee contributions, investment income, and county taxpayer contributions to cover current and future benefits to retirees. The county’s general fund operating budget for this year includes $11.575 million in pension benefits, up $751,000 from last year.

Contact Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or tweet @TLJenLearnAndes.