City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain was proud to announce that the Holyoke Retirement Board voted 4-1 on Thursday to give the 61 Holyoke retirees their annual adjustments as authorized by the City Council this year by a vote of 14-1. After 3 Retirement Board meetings spanning over 3 months, the Retirement Board took final action.
These retirees, like many Holyokers, are struggling to make ends meet and have dedicated their lives to the people of Holyoke. In their golden years, they deserve to have an annual increase to put fuel in their tanks and food on their tables. These 61 retirees each worked over 25 years for the City of Holyoke and most have counted on these funds to keep themselves going. Luckily, the retirees fought hard for their pension! Councilor Devine, Former Mayor Dunn and I were proud to lend a strong voice to make sure that the process was followed and gave these retirees a fighting chance against a tough opponent in the Mayor's office.
Holyoke first adopted the 50% retirement law in 1969 and it has been an integral part of the financial retirment security of employees who are able to provide a minimum of 25 years of service. The City Council and past Mayors have always ensured this important benefit was protected. Despite alot of pressure from the current Executive Director to walk away from this 40 year committment, the Board did the right thing.
Councilor Jourdain also commended the Retirement Board for getting an independent legal opinion on the question of the Mayor attempting to sign the law and then saying his signature did not mean anything. Attorney Thomas F. Gibson, who was hired by the Board, told the Board before the final vote that Sullivan could not qualify his signature. Therefore, his signature constituted approval. Remarkably, the Holyoke Law Department, which took over 60 days to produce an opinion, once again played politics by conjuring up a legal opinion that agreed with the Mayor. The Law Department works for the Mayor and has a long history of legal opinions that favor the Mayor. On Thursday, the Retirement Board confirmed the proposition that the Mayor could not sign the law and walk away from his own signature.
Congratulations Retirees!
Re-Elect Holyoke's Fiscal Watchdog!
