Council President Slams Solicitor's Opinion On 'DROP' Retirement Program

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- City Hall's top attorney is advising City Council members that they are legally permitted to eliminate the controversial retirement perk known as DROP.

When the mayor in early August called on City Council to eliminate DROP, Council president Anna Verna (above) asked city solicitor Shelley Smith for a legal opinion as to whether Council can unilaterally drop DROP or whether any such change must be part of union negotiations.

Read Council President Verna's Request (.pdf format)

Two months later Smith has delivered her opinion, saying DROP can be eliminated by Council for all workers except those currently enrolled in the program.

Read Solicitor Shelley Smith's Opinion (.pdf format)

Mayor Nutter hopes this prompts Council to finally schedule a hearing on the matter:

"We need to end this program.  The citizens of Philadelphia can no longer afford it, and our budget can't take it either."

But Verna, in a statement, said Smith's opinion was not very helpful in answering key questions and she called it "disappointing."

Read Council President Verna's Response (.pdf format)

Council is conducting its own review of DROP and of the mayor's study that called for its elimination.

Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn.