Pension OK’d for Retirement Board chairman; Fire lt. who leads group granted disability retirement
By Bill Kirk, Andover Townsman, Mass. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Cuticchia is also chairman of the Andover Retirement Board, which approved his disability pension following a lengthy medical review and numerous surgeries over the last 1 1/2 years. The four-person board voted 2-0 in favor of granting Cuticchia the disability pension. He recused himself from both the discussion and the vote on his pension.
Normally, there would be five members voting, but there has been a vacancy on the
The pension was also approved by PERAC, the state's
Cuticchia did not respond to requests for an interview. According to Kothman, Cuticchia was allowed to sit in the room as the board deliberated on his disability pension.
"He did not participate in the vote or the discussion," she said. "He talked to the board's attorney, who said he didn't have to leave the room, but he couldn't participate in the vote or the discussion. He turns the chair over to someone else on the board and just sits there."
FD medical leave
Cuticchia's disability pension came to light after Fire Chief
By state law, when a firefighter or police officer is injured on the job, the town -- not the employee's health insurance provider -- pays the medical bills, similar to the way workers' compensation works in the private sector.
Because he didn't have enough money in his own budget, Mansfield sought an additional
After brief deliberations, the
It is the second time the fire chief has been in front of the
The reason for the high cost of injuries billed to the town over the last two years is primarily a result of Cuticchia's injuries. Mansfield confirmed that the biggest contributor to the cost overrun was that one lieutenant had been out for more than 1 1/2 years with a back injury.
Mansfield declined to name the injured employee, citing federal and state confidentiality law. But Cuticchia's name was confirmed by the Retirement Board and the president of the firefighters' union.
Based on the number of hours of medical leave taken, the last two years were the highest years of medical leave at the
According to a chart provided by the fire chief to the
The chart shows a lieutenant was out 2,016 hours in fiscal 2014, costing the town
Cuticchia isn't the only one with costly injuries in fiscal 2014. Another 16 firefighters and two other lieutenants were injured in the line of duty for a total cost, as of the end of May, of about
Overtime to cover all of the injured firefighters was almost
The types of injuries also varied, with eight people out with back injuries, two with knee injuries, and one each with a shoulder, right thumb, mouth and shoulder/elbow injury. Two were treated for exposure injuries.
According to union president
For example, during fiscal year 2013, there were more than 40 injuries reported, but only 14 of them required medical leave and treatment paid for by the town.
Of those requiring leave, one person was injured and out for 176 hours after straining his right shoulder while hooking a hose to a hydrant.
Another injury was sustained when a firefighter twisted his ankle stepping off the ambulance. That injury required 44 hours of medical leave.
Other injuries reported that did not require injury leave included: slipping on ice in the parking lot, walking into a trailer hitch, having pain and ringing in the ears and bumping a door with a knee. One person reported a "chipped tooth" from "exercising" in 2011. Another person reported a left arm injury from an insect bite.
Mansfield confirmed that quite often, treatment is not needed, but that injuries are logged in case medical treatment becomes necessary.
Retirement board policies
In Cuticchia's case, he apparently needed numerous surgeries and attempted to resume duty, but was ultimately deemed unfit to return to his job.
"The approval of the accidental disability retirement was based on medical panel results," Kothman said. "The findings of fact are that the member is disabled, the disability is permanent in nature, the injury is work related, and the member is no longer able to perform the essential duties of his position."
The state commission approved the finding and Cuticchia's retirement was effective
The fact that the board approved a disability retirement for its chairman may not sit well with some in town who have criticized the panel for being too lenient in its policies, thus creating more of a burden on the long-term liabilities in the budget.
During a recent meeting with selectmen, Cuticchia said the Retirement Board is an autonomous group that doesn't report to anyone in town, but whose actions are governed by state law.
Selectmen Chairman
He has also appointed a subcommittee to lead the process of picking the next member of the Retirement Board. A decision is expected soon.
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(c)2014 the Andover Townsman (Andover, Mass.)
Visit the Andover Townsman (Andover, Mass.) at www.andovertownsman.com
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