(A) Notwithstanding section 145.03 of the Revised Code, any employee of the Hamilton county department of air pollution control on January 1, 1980, who was in the employ of the city of Cincinnati in the division of air pollution control and was employed by the Cincinnati city manager, and whose salary was paid by the city of Cincinnati and who was a contributing member of the city of Cincinnati retirement system prior to that date, may choose to be exempt from compulsory membership in the public employees retirement system and to continue contributing membership in the city of Cincinnati retirement system on and after that date, by filing a written request for exemption from the public employees retirement system, which request shall bear the signature of the employee, with the public employees retirement board, provided that exemptions permitted by this division are contingent upon the following:

1. (1) The adoption of an agreement between the board of county commissioners of Hamilton county and authorized representatives of the city of Cincinnati retirement system that provides such employees with the option to continue contributing membership in that retirement system on and after January 1, 1980, upon a compliance with the requirements of this section;
2. (2) The filing of the request for exemption within thirty days of the effective date of the agreement.