Pension board trustee David Gould putting the onus on Common Council for any changes needed to be made to put relief on the city's battered pension plan.
He was being cross-examined by defense lawyer Rod Gillis in the John Ferguson defamation trial.
Gould testified that removing indexing or early retirement packages would need legislative changes and council should have pursued those. He says it was not a pension trustees job to reduce the benefits of recipients or make changes to the act.
But Gillis countered whenever motions were made by Gould, it would be to increase benefits.
He was being cross-examined by defense lawyer Rod Gillis in the John Ferguson defamation trial.
Gould testified that removing indexing or early retirement packages would need legislative changes and council should have pursued those. He says it was not a pension trustees job to reduce the benefits of recipients or make changes to the act.
But Gillis countered whenever motions were made by Gould, it would be to increase benefits.
He says Gould never made recommendations to council on ways to save the floundering pension, such as removing indexing or the rule of 85 as recommended in a financial report.
Gillis also asked Gould about a statement he made during a meeting, "If you can get a bigger bang for your buck when you're not working, then go for it. It's human nature."
Gould says he meant the remark in the context of looking out for the best interest of an employee and their family.
He also denies being John Ferguson's source of alleged wrongdoing by the board.
Gillis also asked Gould about a statement he made during a meeting, "If you can get a bigger bang for your buck when you're not working, then go for it. It's human nature."
Gould says he meant the remark in the context of looking out for the best interest of an employee and their family.
He also denies being John Ferguson's source of alleged wrongdoing by the board.
