Community Corner
State Rules Maturo Can't Receive Disability Pension
He has appealed, but if he loses he might have to pay back pension payments he received while he was mayor from 1997 to 2007.
Mayor Joseph Maturo might be in hot water over continuing to take his Fire Department disability pension while he was mayor, the same issue that convinced his Republican ally .
The New Haven Register reported that the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) agency has denied Maturo’s request to continue to take his disability pension while he is serving as mayor and has raised the possibility that Maturo might have to pay back over $310,000 he received while he was mayor for 10 years from 1997 to 2007.
Both Maturo and McKay were East Haven firefighters and both retired on disabilities. In an interview with East Haven Patch in December, McKay said he decided not to run for town clerk because that job is paid for more than 20 hours a week and that means he would have to give up his $1,500 a month disability pension.
Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
McKay said he was concerned that if he discontinued his pension, the MERS would not let him reinstate it again in the future.
The Register reported the reason the MERS gave for denying Maturo’s pension is that the mayor’s job is paid for more than 20 hours a week.
Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The MERS stopped his payments when Maturo was re-elected in November, which the mayor appealed and lost. He has appealed the denial to the State Employees Retirement Commission.
However, if he loses, it might mean he would have to pay back the disability payments he received while he was mayor from 1997 to 2007.
Maturo has also come under criticism from political opponents who have questioned why he receives disability payments while he is able to go jogging and play golf.
