In June, Governor Baker signed H.4456, which suspends the limits on post-retirement work in the Massachusetts public sector through the end of calendar year 2022 or 90 days after the end of the public health emergency declared on May 28, 2021, whichever occurs first. Thus, MTRS retirees are allowed to work without restrictions during this time period. However, please note that the suspension of hours and earnings limits for 2022 does not apply to retirees receiving accidental or ordinary disability retirement benefits. 5% increase on the first $13,000 of your benefit, or $650 per year

As you may know, the Legislature approved the FY 2023 budget on July 18th and the Governor signed it into law on July 28th. The budget includes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2022, which provides an increase of five percent on the first $13,000 of your retirement benefit, for a maximum increase of $650 per year or $54.17 per month (5% x $13,000/year = $650/year; $650/year ÷ 12 months = $54.17/month).

You are eligible to receive this COLA if you are:

• a retiree who retired on or before June 30, 2021;

• a survivor of an Option C retiree who retired on or before June 30, 2021;

• a survivor of a member who died while in active service on or before June 30, 2021; or,

• an accidental death benefit recipient whose benefit began on or before June 30, 2021.

Information Courtesy of REAM Newsletter

In our last newsletter, we introduced a new initiative of Retirees’ Corner to reach out to recent and not-so-recent retirees to see if they might be willing to share a profile that we can add to subsequent newsletters. Other contributors are encouraged!

Andrew (Drew) Bernard worked 16 years in Conflict Resolution at Waltham High School. He feels he received the most help from Pat Chadbourne who treated him with respect and dignity when he found himself at a low point in his career. He hopes to rest, travel, and work.

Anne Consoletti enjoyed her students and their families as well as her colleagues in her tenure as an ESL teacher at Kennedy Middle School. There are too many people to mention who helped her in her career. She hopes to find a part-time job and looks forward to beach, sun and fun!

Richard “Dick” Scanlon

One of the peripheral advantages of working in the Waltham Public School system during the last twenty plus years was the support we got from the Waltham Police Department. Waltham was one of the first police departments to recognize the positive influence that the police could provide within the schools and to our students. Not only did we have the right ideas in this regard, but we had the right people. Dick Scanlon was one of two police detectives assigned to the schools along with his partner, James Auld. They worked very effectively to support our schools and to promote proper work habits and responsibility to our youth.

Dick is a Waltham native, raised in Warrendale and a 1961 graduate of Waltham High School. Like his father before him he chose a career in the police department. Dick also showed a tremendous interest in Waltham students by coaching Pop Warner Football in the city for forty plus years. Dick was known as “coach” as well as Officer Scanlon and was respected by all his players. School officials were amazed at Dick and Jim’s ability to incorporate their police responsibility with life lessons. Dick is also known as an effective businessman operating a real estate business. Dick is a friend, mentor and philanthropist all in one.

Dick was also an athlete in high school and in later years became recognized as an excellent skier spending as much time as he could in the White Mountains. This was a sport and hobby he shared with his own family. Dick and his wife Donna also raised three wonderful children of their own and still live in their hometown.

Waltham has been lucky to have Dick as one of our citizens for many years. In recognition of his years of service the city dedicated a bench to Dick at Cornelia Warren Field where the Pop Warner team played for many years.

(submitted by Norm MacDonald)