The Worker
Adams firefighters could work until 70
Representative John Barrett’s bill would let call firefighters, volunteers and fire engineers stay on the job past 65 if they still pass a fitness check.
In the Adams Fire District, the bill would lift the mandatory retirement age for call firefighters, volunteer firefighters and fire engineers from 65 to 70. It keeps a medical fitness test in place and leaves pension calculations tied to age 65.
- Would extend service to age 70
- Applies to call firefighters, volunteers and fire engineers
- District could require a paid fitness exam
- Pension benefit would still be based on age 65
- In Massachusetts’ Adams Fire District, call firefighters, volunteer firefighters and fire engineers could stay in service until 70 instead of being forced out at 65
In Massachusetts’ Adams Fire District, call firefighters, volunteer firefighters and fire engineers could stay in service until 70 instead of being forced out at 65. The proposal would cover people who would otherwise hit mandatory retirement at the end of the month in which they turn 65, but only if they are mentally and physically able to do the work.
If enacted, the change would take effect upon passage.
The district keeps a fitness check
The district could require an impartial physician, acceptable to the fire district, to examine the employee at the worker’s expense and decide whether that person is fit to remain in service. Age alone would no longer be the cutoff, but the job would still have a medical gate.
The bill also says no deductions would be taken from their regular pay for retirement or pension purposes for work done after 65. If someone retires under the act after that age, their superannuation retirement allowance would be calculated as if they had retired at 65.