Two commissions established as a result of the 2011 pension reform law continue to meet to discuss modifying and reforming employee benefits.

The Special Commission to Investigate and Study Retiree Healthcare and Other Non-Pension Benefits, which first met in April, has held four of its seven expected meetings.

The 11-member commission is charged with considering the full range of benefits that are or should be provided to current and future retirees and with developing recommendations on the structure of the benefits and how to pay for them.

The unfunded liability for cities and towns for “other post-employment benefits” (OPEBs) in Massachusetts is estimated at between $25 billion and $30 billion – or twice the pension liability and an unsustainable obligation for municipalities.

Shrewsbury Town Administrator Dan Morgado, the MMA’s appointee on the commission, said the group will spend its final meetings drafting possible legislative recommendations to help cities and towns curb the enormous cost of OPEBs, which are largely retiree health benefits.

The commission is expected to hold a public vetting process before releasing its recommendations. Its meeting agendas, minutes, presentations, and additional materials may be found online at www.mass.gov/anf/opeb-commission.html.

The pension reform legislation, enacted last November, also created a Disability Pension Commission to study all aspects of the ordinary and accidental disability provisions of the Massachusetts contributory retirement system.

The commission held its first meeting in early September and has public hearings scheduled in Boston and Worcester this month.

Burlington Town Administrator John Petrin is the MMA’s appointee on the disability commission.

A special Unemployment Insurance Task Force, created in the spring to propose recommendations to address loopholes in the municipal unemployment insurance system, met throughout the summer and early fall and has drafted recommendations.

The recommendations are expected to cover three areas of reform: regulatory changes, best practices for municipalities and the Department of Unemployment Assistance, and legislative fixes.

Newton Mayor Setti Warren and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll are the municipal designees on the task force.

+
+