Massachusetts lawmakers are continuing to work on a bill to dissolve the Hampshire Council of Governments. The regional agency announced this year it planned to cease operations amid financial trouble.
One issue lawmakers are working on is what to do about the pensions and benefits for more than 60 retirees the Hampshire Council currently is responsible for.
Northampton state Senator Jo Comerford said there's no definitive answer yet, but one solution could be to include the retirees in the state retirement system.
"What we want to do is make sure that we build a good and strong foundation with whatever entity accepts these pensioners and their healthcare, to make sure it's a solid and smooth, constituent-centered transition as possible," Comerford said. "
The council also owns the old Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton. Comeford said lawmakers are talking with the Trial Court and other state officials about the fate of the historic building. She said an assessment of the structure from the state's Division of Capital Assesset Management and Maintenance should be out sometime this month.
While July 1 was first mentioned as the date the Hampshire Council of Governments would dissolve, its chair, Rus Peotter, said that might not be the case. He said he believes most of the council's programs will be handed off to other agencies by that time, but he doesn't anticipate the administrative and legislative issues will be worked out by then.
The HCG has provided group purchasing, energy and social service programs to more than a dozen member communities. It was formed two decades ago as county governments in western Massachusetts were dissolving.
Much of the retiree costs come from a former long-term care facility the group inherited from Hampshire County's former government.
