$100,000 Bike Ride by a "Disabled" Central Coventry Fireman"

$ 100,000 Marathon Bike Ride - 160 miles across Massachusetts

by a "Disabled" Central Coventry Fireman …

" Why is their next budget Dead on Arrival ?"

Michael Stevens, 35 , stepped out of a fire engine over a year ago and twisted his knee. Since then, he has been 'Injured On Duty'. This means that he has received his pay and benefits at the same rate as if he were showing up for work. Of course, he hasn't. He's been going to school, riding his bike ( a lot, he trained for and participated in the Pan Mass Challenge which is a 160 mile bike ride across MA. From the pictures it's also clear that he biked to his boat to go fishing. ), went fishing, and played baseball. He was very active -physically. But the taxpayers in the Fire district have been asked to support him , as if he were disabled, an invalid unable to report to work.

This is the level of the taxpayer's support: $109, 332 per year

According to the contract 2013 pay for a Lieutenant is:

: $1051.13 per week =$54,658.76

( pay to have his required EMT certificate. Cardiac is $40wk=$2080

Paramedic is $60 wk = $3120

is 9% of pay up to 14 years = $4,919, 10% for 15 yrs and above = $5465 paid in lump sum

( 11 days X 11 hours) Base hourly pay is $25 per hour X 11 hrs = $275 per day x 11 holidays= $3028

: Family plan $15, 555

for his personal shirts and pants ( all safety equipment provided by District) $1200 paid in lump sum

= $450

, this includes doctor visit co-pays, deductibles, prescription co-pays. In fact, each FF and his family members are issued a debit that links directly to the checking account, so when they make purchases at the drug store, they aren't forced to pay first and ask for reimbursement. IN 2012 the District spent $142,934 for 46 FF = $3107 Average for each.

: 8.5% of salary= $4646

: The District pays the ARC as computed by MERS approximately 24% of salary plus incentive pay plus longevity bonus = $14797.

: $4892 ( matching FICA)

Of course, he would not be eligible for overtime. In 2012 overtime for the 46 FF was $524, 569 or an average of $11,400 per FF. In 2010 the overtime was $1,056,598 or $2,969.52 per FF, in 2011 the amount was $850,092 or $18480. In 2010 District was unable to pay the overtime costs, so the union amended the contract to allow the district to pay them later at a higher rate The party continued.

The total that the taxpayers have paid for Mike Stevens while he has been out under the designation Injured on Duty is : $109,332.

They have gotten nothing for that expenditure.

By the way, this $109,300 plus overtime is what the active lieutenants are receiving.

According to the contract, if he gets the Disability pension he will receive 2/3 of the total of his base salary $54658, plus his incentive pay $2080 or higher, plus his longevity bonus $4919 or more = $61,657.

The MERS Pension reform limited calculation of the pension to base salary only and he would have had to work to age 55.

By the way, a Social security recipient would , of course have to wait until to minimum age of age 62 and at that age receive only ( approximately $15, 708 per year); at 67( normal age) the yearly mount is approximately $22,668 and with a disability the yearly benefit is approximately $20,256. This is based upon a salary of $54,000.

The average household income is Coventry is $60,000.

In addition to the disability check , the District will be required to provide the family plan medical insurance under the same terms he has now. $20 per week co share, full out of pocket reimbursement.

The taxpayers also will be required to pay for his children's college educations.

It should be remembered that he is 35, hence he will be receiving the pension 20 years earlier than originally intended, if the pension reform is upheld by the courts. He will also receive social security when he reaches age 67 ( like the rest of us) based upon his employment. In addition, he has been going to school and clearly intends to seek other employment. As a result, can he really be considered disabled and retired?

The pages from his Facebook page will show what Mike has been able to do while out injured.

Pretty impressive for a knee that makes driving an ambulance impossible.

The quote from his Union President Dave Gorman about his injury was: " This is one of the better disability cases I've seen" ... Makes you wonder about how weak the others have been.