NEW: Mayors Taveras and Polisena to Head Up Pension Commission
Thursday, January 12, 2012
As part of the sweeping pension reform legislation approved by the General Assembly last year, legislators agreed to creation of a study commission to review locally administered (municipal) pension plans.
The 14-member commission includes five legislative appointments – one each by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, and three municipal officials named jointly by the leaders of the two chambers.
Speaker Gordon D. Fox announced today that his appointment to the study panel will be Antonio Pires, former Pawtucket State Representative and former Chairman of the House Committee on Finance.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSenate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed announced the appointment of J. Michael Lenihan of East Greenwich, former State Senator and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
Named jointly by the two leaders are:
Providence Mayor Angel Tavares, as the mayor from a city or town with a population greater than 50,000; Johnston Mayor (and former State Senator) Joseph M. Polisena, as the mayor of a city or town with a population of less than 50,000, and Jamestown Town Administrator Bruce R. Keiser, as the administrator of a town.
In addition to three appointments that will be made by Gov. Lincoln Chafee, the commission will be composed of: the Director of the Department of Revenue (who will serve as chair); the Auditor General; the General Treasurer; a representative of the Department of Administration; a representative of the RI League of Cities and Towns, and a representative of the RI Public Expenditures Council.
The study commission, under the provisions of the new law, is charged with reviewing existing legislation and pension plan administrative practices and making recommendations for the improved security and funding of locally administered plans and other post-retirement benefit obligations of cities and towns.
