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Posted by Joelle Nolan, Mt. Desert, June 18, 2010:

For those of you that deal with employee benefits, I would really appreciate your input on the new MainePERS rules regarding enrollment.  We are a PLD with a 218 Agreement, and we pay/deduct Social Security and Medicare for all employees.  As many Maine towns do, we have several part-time/seasonal workers during the summer months; often high-school age.  If I am understanding correctly the information from MainePERS, I now have to offer these part-time/seasonal employees the option of joining MainePERS IF “from the first day of employment his/her job description is one that would require him/her to work at least 15 hours per week and accumulate at least 720 hours in a period of 12 consecutive months or 1170 hours in 18 consecutive months”.  According to MainePERS, the employee does not need to work 12 consecutive months in order to qualify; only has to accumulate at least 720 hours and work at least 15 hours a week.  Evidently it's the phrase “would require him/her to work” that catches us.

So, I offer the 17 year old the option to join, he refuses, and now, as I understand it, he may never join MainePERS through any future employment with the Town of Mount Desert.  ??

Are you budgeting for the potential liability of these part-time people joining?

Thanks so much for any light you may be able shed on this very dark subject!