MACRS

APRIL 12, 201O: The Senate Ways and Means Committee favorably released S2377, An Act Relative to Pension Governance Reform. The bill has been ordered to a Third Reading and is likely to be debated in the Senate on Wednesday, April 14. If approved by the Senate, the bill will then be sent to the House for further action.

MACRS is currently reviewing the bill and will update members on further developments.

The Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS) is pleased to announce the agenda for our Spring 2010 Annual Conference, to be held June 6 to 9th, Hyannis, MA.

MACRS_2010_Annual_Conference_Draft_Agenda.pdf

MACRS REGISTRATION REMINDERS

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES IN HOTEL ROOM CANCELATION POLICY

THERE WILL BE A FEE FOR CONFERENCE CANCELATION

THERE ARE 4  REGISTRATION FORMS

• HOTEL (Registration forms have been mailed to all MACRS members, via your local retirement board)

• PRE-CONFERENCE (2010_Trustee_Workshop_Registration_Form.pdf)

• ANNUAL MEETING AND CONFERENCE (Annual_Meeting_R._B._Registration_Form.pdf)

• A FORM WITH A DISCOUNT FOR ATTENDING BOTH (BOOTH_REG_FORM_2010_SPRING.pdf)

COPY THE REGISTRATION FORM IF MORE SPACE IS NEEDED

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ARE WELCOME @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 413 246 9238

KEVIN REGAN CONFERENCE PLANNER

Richard Heidlage has presented a preliminary Agenda for the Comprehensive Training
Program for Board Members and Staff. MACRS foresees very few changes to the agenda as we move forward.

This program is not just for new members, anyone can attend, and will be held on June 5th and 6th just prior to our main conference.

The main conference agenda is almost completed and will include:
•    The Business meeting
•    MACRS elections
•    A presentation on the open meeting law
•    A presentation on record keeping
•    The Ethics Commission will be doing an extended program on Monday afternoon covering the new ethics law
•    A liability insurance update
•    A PERAC update
•    A legislative update
•    A DALA update
•    Atty. Gibson promise’s an excellent legal panel on Wednesday
•    And much more
With the legislative changes that have been made or are proposed, we will have a busy agenda.

MACRS_2010_COMPREHENSIVE_TRAINING_PROGRAM.pdf

Please check back soon for more information.

Legislature Weighs Options

FEBRUARY 5, 2010: The Joint Committee on Public Service will not hear testimony on Monday, February 8, on bills recently filed by Governor Deval Patrick.  Committee members are now reviewing  the proposals, which allow for extension of local pension funding schedules and further reform the state’s public retirement law.

February 8 Hearing Scheduled

January 28, 2010: Governor Deval Patrick has filed two bills over the past week that could have major impacts on the Massachusetts public pension systems, as well as employees and retirees.

Served Association Over 45 Years

Long-time MACRS board member and dedicated conference planner John E. Murphy, Jr. passed away at home on the morning of December 31, 2009. The 85 year old Murphy, a US Navy veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, served MACRS for over 45 years.

A Plymouth resident, John served more than 15 years as an appointed member of the Town of Plymouth Retirement Board. He had previously been an elected member of the Somerville Retirement Board, where he served as chairman for many years. John Murphy worked for the City of Somerville for more than 40 years, retiring as the Director of Emergency Services Management.

After receiving a number of radiation treatments at Mass General, John is back in his home in Plymouth where he is being attended by members of his family, along with Hospice Care and under the watchful eye of his neighbor, Tom Kelley.

John is free from pain and no further treatments are scheduled. He wishes to thank the MACRS members and friends for the many letters and cards he has received.

John is a former MACRS President, a member of the Plymouth Retirement Board and the longtime MACRS Conference Coordinator.