Daily News from New York, New York • 227

QiMTOS DD pDOSDfil winners. Tier 1 and 2 employees, who do not contribute to the funds, will receive up to 24 months of additional service credit in their pension calculations. This means a state worker with 37 years of service who retires at Grade 14 after June 1 will see the yearly county or municipal pensions. They would have to pay up to 3 of their annual salary for each year added. Unlike other veteran buyback bills, this legislation will allow even those veterans collecting military pensions an opportunity to buy back some civ CIVIL value ot his or her pension boosted by more than $1,600 a year or $135 a month.

Civil Service would like to thank Stephen Madarasz of the Civil Service Employees Associ il service pension time. The only other major pension issue left on the table at this writing was the permanent COLA, which was also expected to pass. By BU fARRELL DAIIY NEWS STAFF WRITER It sure has been a busy week in Albany. During the past couple of days, both houses of the Legislature have approved or are working toward approval of pension reforms long sought by civil service unions and retirees. One of the key provisions of all the new four-year collective bargaining agreements with the state unions including Public Employees Federation, which joined the fold this past weekend was Pension Her Equity.

Under the terms of the new contracts, state negotiators and the unions agreed to pursue legislation that would eliminate employee contributions to the pension funds by Her 3 and 4 members with more than 10 years of service. The elimination of that contribution translates to a 3 yearly increase in salary on top of a pensionable $500 signing bonus and a 13 salary hike throughout the four-year deal. On average, the pension savings, which kick in Oct. 1, will add more than $2,800 to the paycheck of a Tier 3 or 4 worker at Grade 12 during the life of the pact. Tier 3 and 4 workers weren't the only time employees.

The first raise is retroactive to October 1999 and the second is retroactive to April 1 The two additional raises will go into effect April 1, 2001, and April 1, 2002. As we noted above, federation members also will receive the pension enhancements approved by the Legislature. One of the major sticking points in the PEF contract was electronic timekeeping methods. "We are a union of professionals who are paid a salary to do the work we do," one state attorney told us. "Doctors and lawyers don't punch a time clock" Under the new agreement both sides agreed that electronic swipe cards used for access will not' be used for time and attendance purposes.

However, nonovertime eligible federation employees, who, until now, only had to write present or absent on their time cards, will have to log in the number of hours worked. The federation contract is expected to be approved by the executive board sometime today. The contract will be sent to the full membership early next month. ation for his help in compiling the estimated pension figures. Buyback bill finally moving The Legislature also was busy on other key pension issues including the permanent cost-of-living adjustment for retirees and the pension buyback for veterans.

The buyback bill, which was held up in the Senate for years, passed late Monday night and was expected to clear the Assembly sometime after Civil Service's deadline. to Mario Cilento of the AFL-CIO, the measure will permit veterans to buy back up to three years of their time in the service, allowing the time to count in calculating their state, Considering Gov. Patald and Controller H. Carl McCall, as well as nearly every member of the Legislature, are supporters, there is little doubt Cilen-to's assessment is correct. "Getting all these bills passed through the Legislature is huge," Stephen Madarasz said.

"It was all the result of everyone the unions, retirees, veterans and everyone standing together." Federation's raises kicking in As for the Public Employees Federation contract, both sides reached a tentative deal over the weekend. Like all other unions, federation employees will receive raises of 3, 3, 3.5 and 3.5 as well as $500 cash bonus, which will be pro-rated for part- Hall of Fame grant offer has a catch rT pAH, it 4 By BOB KAPPSTATTER DAIUf NEWS BRONX BUREAU CHIEF The Bronx's renowned Hall of Fame for Great Americans is getting a potential half-million-dollar boost. Responding to an article in Sunday's Daily News about the lack of funds to install busts for the hall's last four remaining heroes and other needed repairs and upgrades to the historic colonnade. Borough President Fernando Ferrer has pledged a matching half-million dollars from his next capital budget if the hall can raise the other half. Ferrer made the pledge Monday night at Bronx Community College's Hall of Fame Centennial Gala.

Several hundred guests braved heavy rains to attend a tented benefit for the college's foundation. Ferrer, who graduated from Bronx Community College, and local City Councilman Wendell Foster have already funded repairs to the auditorium of the historic Gould Library, and Ferrer has funded a new lighting and a sound system for the library. "I gave them a challenge grant," Ferrer said yesterday. "You raise half, and I'll put in the other half for the current busts, future busts and upgrades." Monday night's gala, hosted by college President Carolyn Williams, was to support student scholarships and draw attention to the centennial of the Hall of Fame, which has struggled through some lean times. Its last four niches have been empty since the 1970s, with no funds available to cast busts of Supreme Court Justice Louis JENNIFER ALTMAN A scribe in the works, Marcy Mutiso, 10, a student on Roosevelt Island in Manhattan, peruses prose of her peers on display courtesy of The National Arts Club's creative writing festival, designed to encourage students to improve their writing skills.

Andrew trialist-philanthropist rero, a bakery foreman at the Stella D'Oro Biscuit Co. in River-dale. He donated a lifesaving kidney to longtime friend and co- "When I look at him, my scar disappears." Ferrer drew laughs when he told the audience that he attended the college "in 19-mphh- Carnegie. Hall of Fame director Ralph Rourke estimates each bust would cost about $25,000.. Actually, it was during the Vietnam War years when protests and sit-ins raged across the nation's campuses.

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