Nutter to Expectant Retirees: DROP Dead

For anyone who’s ever been enraged that certain city employees can start receiving pension payments four years before they actually retire and collect the balance as a lump sum when they finally get around to leaving, the Inquirer reports a satisfying tidbit of schadenfreude:

The administration cited the September 2015 World Meeting of Families, which includes a visit by Pope Francis, as a reason to extend the retirement dates for five managers, including the deputy commissioner for parks and recreation, Susan Slawson, and her chief of staff, Cynthia D. Douglas.

The remaining seven, including three information technology specialists, saw their retirement dates extended because the city did not have suitable replacements. Under DROP rules, participants give notice four years in advance of their scheduled retirement date so the city can prepare for their leaving.

The administration, citing huge expected crowds for the papal visit, will also offer retirement extensions to 100 or so police officers.

Nutter tried to eliminate DROP in 2010 as part of a wider pension-reform initiative, but City Council declined to act.