![[Greene County Daily World]](http://gcdailyworld.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (8)In the email to the Greene County Daily World and other area media contracts, Cullison stated,"I would like to take this opportunity to express what a pleasure it has been to work with all of you and I wish you the very best in your future endeavors. May God bless each and every one of you"
Cullison has been involved in an ongoing dispute with the Greene County Council in a effort to collect "back" PERF retirement benefits that she claims she should be paid.
At its Aug. 25 meeting, the council again reaffirmed it's decision not to pay the back benefits and the president of the County Council Ed Cullison said the matter was closed.
County Council Attorney Marvin Abshire told the council that he has researched the issue and said a previous county council did not adopt an ordinance during the years in question to authorize state retirement plan (PERF) benefit coverage for three employees -- including Cullison.
Abshire said the matter was a question of legal opinion and did not want to set a "bad" precedent for the current or future councils.
"It's not a question of moral outcome, but legal opinion," he said.
Voter Registration Clerk Marjorie Cullison had been asking the county to take care of $3,209 in back PERF (retirement) benefits to cover the years 1998 and 1999 when she was classified a full-time part-time county employee.
That request was denied on several occasions.
Cullison told the Greene County Daily World on Thursday morning that she was retiring and acknowledged that the decision by the county council "had a bearing" on her decision to retire at this time.
"I was disappointed in the decision of the council, but it's time for me to spend some quality time with my family" she said. "I plan on enjoying some retirement time and doing some things with my family."
She plans to also travel and visit with her grandchildren.
Cullison, who has worked in the clerk's office since 2000, said she has enjoyed her association with the election candidates and voters.
She admits the job has given her sort of an "an addiction to politics" and noted she will surely miss the excitement of working on election night as the votes trickle into the clerk's office.
Working in the Voter Registration office has also been beneficial in other ways.
"It's given me an insight of the workings of government that otherwise I would never had had," she stated.
Cullison had earlier informed the council that she has consulted with state and federal Department of Labor officials and several past county council members about the matter.
They agree that the county should honor the retirement benefits earned and pay them back retroactively from 2001 to 2004.
Cullison had told the council that she logged the full-time service time while working in the voter registration office, but were not eligible for PERF benefits because their job titles were designated as part-time/full-time.
That designation changed Jan. 1, 2004 when both were made third deputies.
Cullison was seeking retroactive PERF benefits for the three-year period Jan. 1, 2001 to Jan. 1, 2004.
When asked if she might consider future legal action against the county to resolve the benefit dispute, Cullison noted she hadn't made a decision yet.
"I don't know at this time if I'm looking at legal action. I may think about it later," she stated.
Cullison pointed out that the back benefits she was seeking would have helped her PERF retirement by about $165 a month.
"It's not like it was going to bankrupt the county, she added.
Good timing, thanks to the Greene Council Council.
Good luck Margie. And thanks for the great job you've done. You'll be missed.
Did she know that PERF benefits were not being paid when she took the job? To me that is the key issue, not how much time she spent on the job. No it will not break the bank, it will set a precedent. This would be like going to our employers and requesting that the any raises we have received are also made retroactive. Fat chance that is going to happen anytime soon. Ms. Cullison is a fine lady and I wish her the very best in her retirement.
I had the privelage of working with Marge in another office at the courthouse. She was a top notch employee who had passion for her job and dedication to the people of Greene Co. A few years back I gave Marge a call and offered her a position at my current place of employment. She denied because of her committment to her job at the Greene County Courthouse. I can tell you from experience that Marge's demeanor and attitude will be missed on the election board. As for the council members recieving perf for being part time employees. It is wrong but that is politics. It is just a real shame that there are two sets of standards for county employees. God Bless you Marge. Enjoy your retirement. Life is too short to work somewhere your not appreciated.
I too, have worked with Margie on several occasions. It didn't matter if you were a Democrat or a Republican, she was always very professional and always willing to offer her assistance. She was certainly an asset to the Voter's Registration Office.
I believe, as a full-time employee, (unlike the part-time Commissioners and Councilmen who receive PERF benefits) the County Council did her a real injustice in not paying her retroactive PERF benefits!
I wish her the best of luck in her retirement.
Indeed, I couldn't have agreed more, she will be hard to replace. I have worked with Margie on several occassions and she was always very professional and pleasant.
Good luck in your retirement Margie, you certainly deserve some quality time with your family.
What a shame. Margie was such an asset to the voter registration office. Her shoes will be big ones to fill. Best of luck to you, Margie.
WOW! That will bw a major blow to their office. Good luck Matgie.