The incoming South Berwick fire chief, the only full-time firefighter, will be able to join the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, the town council decided this week.
The council voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday to extend to any full-time firefighters the same benefit available to other full-time town employees, defined as anyone who works more than 20 hours a week. Since Chief Nick Hamel, who will begin Jan.1, will be the only full-time firefighter, the new benefit will apply only to him for the time being.
Hamel will have choice of participating in the public employees IRS tax-advantaged retirement program or the state MainePERS, as the state retirement system is known. All other full-time town employees have the same options.
“South Berwick has a volunteer firefighting staff,” said Town Manager Tim Pellerin, “(but) as the town grows, full-time fire department staff will likely increase, and having this benefit in place will help with recruitment.”
Adding the benefit later, after full-time personnel are eligible, would result in the town having to pay out benefits to those employees retroactively, he said.
Retirement benefits begin after 20 years of service for both fire and police department employees, after 25 years for other employees.
Hamel is South Berwick’s first full-time fire chief. Joe Rousselle, part-time fire chief from 2017 until his retirement last year, was also the code enforcement officer and was eligible for the retirement benefit options.
