Item N10
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: February 21, 2001
Division: Commissioner Spehar
Bulk Item: Yes No
Department: BOCC
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of additional retirement funds in the amount of $14,631.03 for Wilhelmina Harvey to
be paid to the State of Florida Department of Management Services, Division of Retirement,
subject to the approval of the payment by the Division.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Mayor Emeritus Harvey in error waived County payment of retirement account funds to the
Division for the years 1988 - 1990. During this period between 1988 and 1990, whether this
contribution was paid or not paid would not have changed the salary earned by Mayor Emeritus
Harvey. .
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes No
Cost to County:
APPROVED BY: County Attorney _ OMB/Purchasing_ Risk Management_
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: A/ ~ hJ. · ~--'~
Comm'ssioner Dixie M. spehar
DOCUMENTATION: Included X To Follow Not Required_
AGENDAITEM#~
DISPOSITION:
1800 Atlantic Blvd.
Condo 104-A
Key West, FL 33040
February 1, 2001
Mr. James Roberts
County Administrator
Monroe County
5100 College Rd.
Key West, FL 33040
Dear Mr. Roberts:
I am writing to you as Administrator of Monroe County to help me
resolve an employment problem with Monroe County since I am not there
to work on this problem myself. I am in hopes that you will have the
County Attorney work on this, a legal county problem.
Enclosed are letters from the State of Florida Retirement Services
informing me, that I mu~t pay (or have my employer, the County
Commission pay) $14,631.03 into the retirement system to draw an
annuity on my County Commission employment record from November
1988 to June 1990. I continuously worked until November 20, 2000.
I had worked previously as County Commissioner from November
1980 to June 1986, when I resigned. NOT knowing I would work for
Monroe County again, I filed for retirement based on service on the
School Board for 8 years plus my then Commission service where I was
awarded a monthly annuity of $500.00 plus COLA.
I was under Florida Retirement Service again when I was re-elected
November 1988, but through some misunderstanding I was sent a form
asking which type of annuity I desired and I checked the wrong box
which indicated, "no retirement desired". But in 1990, Monroe County
placed my employment under retirement credit again. It is this period of
employment the State now requests $14,613.03, which I do not think is
fair. Regretfully, I request the present Board of Monroe County
Commissioners to pay the amount of $14,613.03 based on:
1. As Commissioner I worked diligently sometimes far into the
night for years. '
2. Monroe County did not carty my service under credits for
retirement (which was provided each employee free of any
charge) .
3. Had Monroe County not contacted me (unsolicited by me)
about desiring to be carried under the State Retirement
System, my entire 12.8 years employment (from November
1988 to November 20, 2000) would have been outside of the
retirement system.
4. Since being carried under retirement status was a "Freebie"
for most County employees, I was under the mistaken
thought that, "working under retirement privilege" was like
working under "Social Security"- one was compelled to do it.
I rest my case.
Sincerely,
Wilhelmina G. Harvey
Applicant for retirement
Encs. - Letters from Florida State
Retirement System
P.S. I recall the County Commission approving (while I was on the
Commission) at least two requests for funds by two local Judges and one
former county attorney. I think the "Reserves" were used for these
approvals.