The Municipal Employees Retirement Commission (MERC) was established pursuant to Public Act 24-151, codified into Connecticut General Statutes § 7-448a.
On and after January 1, 2025, the general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors’ Benefit Fund under part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and the municipal employees’ retirement system under part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes is vested in a board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission.
The MERC constitutes a successor commission to the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission, with respect to the provisions of part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39 of the general statutes.
The MERC consists of the following members:
- The State Comptroller, or Comptroller’s designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member and shall preside at meetings of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission. P.A. 24-151 § 82(3)(b)(1).
- The State Treasurer, or the Treasurer’s designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member. P.A. 24-151 § 82(3)(b)(2)
- Four (4) trustees who represent employees and shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of four nominees submitted to the Governor by a federation of labor organizations in the state that represent private and public employees and workers in the building trades, (A) one of whom shall be (i) a municipal public safety employee who is a member of the municipal employees’ retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such public safety employees, (B) two of whom shall be (i) a municipal employee, other than a public safety employee, who is a member of the municipal employees’ retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such municipal employees, and (C) one of whom shall be a retired member of the municipal employees’ retirement system. P.A. 24-151 § 82(3)(b)(3).
- Four (4) trustees who represent government employers, who shall not be required to represent or be in the active service of a participating municipality, as defined in section 7-425 of the general statutes, (A) one of whom shall represent a municipal employer and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents small towns, (B) two of whom shall represent municipal employers and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents municipalities, and (C) one of whom shall represent municipal housing authorities in the state and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents housing and redevelopment officials in the state. P.A. 24-151 § 82(3)(b)(4).
- Two (2) trustees who shall be appointed by the State Comptroller, with the approval by simple majority of the trustees appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, who possess expertise and experience in financial management, actuarial science or pension management. P.A. 24-151 § 82(3)(b)(5).
- One (1) neutral trustee who shall serve as the chairperson of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the trustees appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection. The chairperson shall cast a vote on a matter before said commission only in the event of a tie vote. P.A. 24-151 § 82(3)(b)(6).
Trustees
- Brian Vahey
Chairman - Carl Chism
Labor - David Glidden
Labor - Troy Raccuia
Labor - Jeffrey Tomchik
Labor - Jeffrey Arn
Municipal (Housing Authorities) - Stephen Stephanou
Municipal - Kurt Miller
Municipal - Michael Freda
Municipal - Michelle Boyles
Actuarial Subject Matter Expert - Karen McDonough
Pension Subject Matter Expert - Sean Scanlon, State Comptroller
Ex Officio - Erick Russell, State Treasurer
Ex Officio
Standing Committees
- Audit and Finance Committee
- Minimum Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
- Benefits Committee
- Minimum Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
- Legal/Personnel Committee
- Minimum Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
- Governance Committee
- Minimum Meeting Frequency: Biannually