§ 22-130. Creditable service.

(a)

Under such rules and regulations as the Board shall adopt, each member in service, on authorized leave of absence or in the Army, Navy or military service of the United States on November 1, 1944, who becomes a member during the year following the date of first becoming eligible for membership, shall file a detailed statement of all service as an employee rendered by such member prior to November 1, 1944, for which such member claims credit and of such other facts as the Board may require for the proper operation of the retirement system.

(b)

The board shall fix and determine by appropriate rules and regulations how much service in any year is equivalent to a year of service, but in no case shall more than one year of service be creditable for all service in one calendar year. The board shall not allow credit as service for any period of more than one month's duration during which the employee was absent continuously without pay.

(c)

Subject to the restrictions of this section and to such other rules and regulations as the Board may adopt, the Board shall verify, as soon as practicable after the filing of such statements of service, the service therein claimed.

(d)

Upon verification of the statements of service, the Board shall issue prior service certificates certifying to each member the length of prior service rendered with which such member is credited. The certificate shall include all continuous service and such other service as may be allowable prior to a break in service under such uniform rules as the Board may adopt. So long as membership continues, a prior service certificate shall be final and conclusive for retirement purposes as to such service; however, any member may, within one year from the date of issuance or modification of such a certificate, request the Board to modify or correct such member's prior service certificate. When membership ceases, the prior service certificate shall become void and should the employee again become a member, such member shall enter the retirement system as an employee not entitled to prior service credit.

(e)

Creditable service at retirement on which the retirement income of a member shall be based shall consist of the membership service rendered by such member since such member last became a member and, also, if such member has a prior service certificate which is in full force and effect, the amount of the service certified on such member's prior service certificate and also past service credit.

(f)

Effective March 1, 2000, if a member leaves employment and is not eligible for a vested benefit payable at a future date, the member may leave any employee contributions in the plan for up to five years. If the employee returns to work within the five-year period, he may be reinstated and begin to accrue additional membership service from the date of reinstatement. If no re-employment occurs within the five years after leaving employment, then the accumulated contributions for which the member is eligible will be refunded and the member will be withdrawn from the plan. No creditable service is allowable for the period between the separation and return to work.

(g)

Effective March 1, 2000, if a member leaves employment and is not vested, is not eligible for a refund, and returns to work within five years, he may be reinstated and accrue additional membership service from the date of reinstatement. If no re-employment occurs, the employee will be withdrawn from the plan. No creditable service is allowable for the period between the separation and return to work.

(Code 1973, § 22-51; Code 1992, § 22-130; Ord. No. 416-G, § 3, 2-17-2000)