April 1, 2015 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD
HELD ON, APRIL 1, 2015 AT 5:00 P.M.

PRESENT: : Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Philip Mantoni, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Anne Leduc, Judy L. Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Henry Gagnon, Jeffrey McCorkindale, Attorney Joseph G. Donnellan, Bryan Tredo, Drew Piemonte

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Burns, seconded by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meetings held on, March 4, 2015
Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to accept the following Superannuation applications submitted by: Linda Bak, Paraprofessional Boland Elementary School as of 6/1/15, Jane Brooks, Lab & Reg Manager/ Water & Sewer Commission as of 4/30/15, Juanita Godette, Secretary Central High School as of 7/1/15, John Kent, Police Sergeant as of 4/4/15, Fred Syniec, Maintenance Craftsman DPW as of 4/1/15, Patricia Fitzgerald Hobbs, Office Manager –Police Department as of 4/1/15, Laurent Tourville, Sr. Inspectional Service Clerk, Building Department as of 4/29/15 Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #3-Warrants
Motion made by Mantoni, seconded by Kennedy to approve the payment of Warrant #11- Expenses in the amount of $2,520.00, Warrant #12- Refunds in the amount of $74,515.45, Warrant #13- Refund in the amount of $107.66, Warrant #14-March Retiree pensions in the amount of $ 5,654,918.75 including a redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $4,750,000.00, Warrant #15- Expenses in the amount of $136,494.73 Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #4-Refunds
Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to approve the twenty-three (23) requests for refunds. Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #5-Redeposit of Refund and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to approve the re-deposit of refunds and makeup for Michael Browning, Parks Dept., Leo Maheux, Water & Sewer Commission (this makeup is for the value of housing prior to 2009, the Employer should have withheld retirement contributions, the error was administrative, the Board voted to waive the interest on this calculation), Judith Anderson, School Dept.
Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #6-Disability Application-James Kosnicki, Mechanic
Mr. Kosnicki did not attend the meeting. Based on the incomplete accidental disability application presented to the Board and that the Physician’s Statement answered Question 3 as “I don’t know”, a motion was made by Mantoni to not accept the application as it was not substantiated by the medical evidence, motion was seconded by Kennedy, Board voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Firefighter, Bryan Tredo
Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application for Bryan Tredo and request that P.E.R.A.C. convene a medical panel. Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability-Police Officer, Henry Gagnon
Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to accept the response of the medical panel along with the application for accidental disability and approve benefits under § 94-Heart Presumption. Board Member Patrick Burns recused himself from this agenda item. Roll call vote:Scanlon, yes Kennedy, yes Mantoni, yes Moynihan, yes. Motion passes with a majority.
Minutes of April 1, 2015 cont.

Agenda Item #9-Survivor Benefits-Angiolina Roblinski
Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to grant survivor benefits pursuant to §101 for Angiolina Roblinski, widow of Walter Roblinski, retiree of the Springfield Housing Authority. Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #10-Accidental Disability Remand-Jeffrey McCorkindale
The Chairman asked Attorney Donnellan if he had any questions or requests concerning the remand from P.E.R.A.C. The Chairman stated that there were 3 options available. One is to deny the disability benefit based on the reports of the medical panel, two, to request P.E.R.A.C. for a new medical panel, based on a flaw of the previous panel and or third, to ask the present medical panel for clarification. Attorney Donnellan asked the Board if they would request clarification based on new medical information. Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to request clarification from all three Doctor’s panels in lieu of new medical information. Voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #11-2015 COLA
The Board was attended by 18 Retirees to show support of adopting a 3% cost of living adjustment. The Board noted that a 3% Cola amount is already included in the System’s funding Schedule. Motion made by Kennedy, seconded by Moynihan to grant a 3% COLA effective July 1, 2015. Voted unanimously

Agenda Item #12- Director’s Report
Executive Director, Anne Leduc informed the Board that the Annual Statement was now complete and will be sent to PERAC. She also noted that Eugene D’Angelo had done a good job finalizing the statement.

Leduc asked the Board to vote to consider a payment reserve for postage costs. Pitney Bowes has now instituted a fee to have postage prior to payment. Pat Burns stated that there isn’t any other way to avoid fees. Motion made by Mantoni, seconded by Kennedy to allow Executive Director, Anne Leduc to make in advance payments to Pitney Bowes for postage. Voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio spoke to the Board about Paula Thayer who has a DALA Appeal pending. Attorney Vivenzio stated that new information was provided by her Attorney, John Connor. Based on this, Attorney Vivenzio informed the Board that Executive Director, Anne Leduc concluded that Ms. Thayer was essentially treated like an employee. Given the new information Attorney Vivenzio requested that the Board rescind their prior vote denying the request and to allow Ms. Thayer to make-up contributions for consulting services from 1996 through 1999. Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Mantoni to rescind their vote of May 8, 2013 denying Ms. Thayer’s request for make-up. Voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan, seconded by Kennedy to allow Ms. Thayer to make-up contributions for the above years. Voted unanimously.
Attorney Vivenzio also spoke to the Board regarding another upcoming DALA Appeal on behalf of Susan Placanico, widow of Giorge Placanico who died in December, 2012. Mrs. Placanico is currently receiving §101 benefits while appealing DALA for §9. Attorney Vivenzion informed the Board that additional medical information was obtained but had not seen it. He stated he would keep the Board informed.

Agenda Item #14-Old Business
None

Included in the agenda: January 2015 Trial Balance, General Ledger, Receipts, Disbursement and Adjusting Journal reports. PRIM Board update for February 2015, List of recent deaths, March Transfers, Crescendo IV December 2014 report

Motion made by Kennedy, seconded by Mantoni to Adjourn at 5:48 P.M.

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Thomas M. Scanlon, Chairman

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Robert P. Moynihan, Elected Member

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Haskell. Kennedy, Appointed Member

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Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

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Philip J. Mantoni, 5th Member