Months after the initial discussion of changing a retirement provision in the city of Covington’s Defined Benefit Plan was brought up by the Covington city Council, the provision has been officially amended.

Provision 5.15, Section A stated that the pension of a retired city employee who returned to work or was elected to office would suspended during the period they were once again working or in office.

The amended provision would make it possible for part-time employees, working less than 1,000 hours a year, could still receive retirement benefits if they return to work. The pensions of full-time employees, those working over 1,000 hours a year, would be temporarily suspended during the time they worked for the city.

During Monday’s council meeting a motion to amend Provision 5.15, Section A of the Covington Municipal Code was passed 4-2. The dissenting votes were made by Janet Goodman and Hawnethia Williams. The two have been against the motion since it came in front of the council on June 15.

Keith Dalton, who serves on the city’s pension committee, first brought up the amendment, stating that the rule was called “archaic” by one of the members of the committee.

The original motion, made by Dalton, passed 3-2 but drew a heated debate about the upcoming election. Due to the amount of discussion the vote drew, and concern from Covington’s Human Resource Director Ronnie Cowan, a work session was called for to follow up on the amendment to Provision 5.15.

During that work session the council voted to suspend its action concerning the part of the provision that deals with retired employees who return to work. While retired employees would once again have their pension suspended if they returned to work, employees elected to office in the city would still receive the pension.

Monday, the temporary suspension of the council’s original motion was officially changed.