Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 26, 1992 TAG: 9201260193
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ELECTION WIN WOULD END PENSION
Former Roanoke Councilman James Trout, who is trying to make a political comeback, will have to give up his city pension if he returns to City Council.The city code prohibits a person from receiving a city pension and salary simultaneously.
Trout, who announced last week that he will seek the Democratic nomination for a council seat, has received a city pension of about $6,500 a year since he left council in 1990.
The salary for council members is $13,000, and $15,000 a year for the mayor.
Council members are enrolled in the city's pension system and are treated as city employees.
"It's no problem with me if I have to give it up [while serving on council]. We live by the rules," Trout said Friday. "I am willing to do that because I want to return to council and work for the people."
Trout, 61, was on council for 16 years, but he has credit for 32 years for retirement purposes. Under a two-for-one retirement plan that was approved several years ago, council members received two years of credit for each year served.
The amount of a city pension is determined by the salary and the number of years of service.
Finance Director Joel Schlanger said the law prohibiting city employees from receiving a salary and pension simultaneously has been used in a few cases.
"We have had two or three cases where city employees wanted to return to work after they retired and they have to give up their pensions," he said.
Trout is a retired economic development engineer for Norfolk Southern Corp.
Meanwhile, he said a misunderstanding over his railroad pension, which caused him to withdraw and then re-enter the race for council two years ago, has been cleared up. He said he can serve on council without jeopardizing his railroad pension.
Keywords:
POLITICS