Working to Solve Hamden Pension Crisis

By Ann DeMatteo, Register Staff adematteo@nhregister.com / Twitter: @annddematteo HAMDEN — The Legislative Council took initial steps Wednesday night toward finding a solution for the drastically underfunded pension fund, but answers won’t come for another six months. A council committee unanimously agreed to a bid waiver to hire The Segal Co. as a pension plan design consultant for $90,000. The full council will take action Monday. Council members wanting to be sure the information would be available before the 2013-14 budget is final asked how long it would take to get the information. Curt Leng, Mayor Scott D. Jackson’s chief aide, said it would take about six months. In response to another question, Leng said he believes “information will flow” about what the consultant is learning as time goes on. Already, he said, the mayor has had discussions with unions and is looking at working collaboratively with council members. “Without the unions being partners, a comprehensive solution can’t be reached,” Leng said. Leng said the mayor was seeking a bid waiver because Segal, based in Atlanta, already is working for the town on health insurance and pension matters. “They’re very good at this and we want experts with good qualifications to develop a comprehensive solution,” he said.