MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON APRIL 12, 2016 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Philip Mantoni, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Anne Leduc, Walter Pinckney, James Curran, Attorney Daniel Blakesley, Matthew Vickery, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Dwayne Fields, Attorney Joseph Donnellan, William Sepulveda, Jeremy McDowell.
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the minutes of the meeting held on March 2, 2016, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to accept all Superannuations with an issue to be examined by PERAC on one application: Carmen Benitez, School Paraprofessional with 22 years and 11 months as of 7/18/16, Brian Collins, School Fac. Op. Manager with 32 years and 2 months as of 7/2/16, Edward Fallon, City Sealer of Wghts & Measrs with 34 years and 9 months as of 4/30/16, Ex. Director, Anne Leduc, Springfield Retirement System with 34 years and 3 months as of 5/19/16, David Meehan, Facilities Asst. Director of Municipal Bldgs with 11 years and 1 month as of 4/23/16, Colleen Murgolo, Facilities Sr. Custodian with 10 years and 4 months as of 6/30/16, Noreen Nolan, School Paraprofessional with 32 years as of 4/17/16, Dawn Smith, Police Det. Attendant with 14 years and 9 months as of 3/15/16, Joseph Skura, Water & Sewer Commission with 10 years as of 4/11/16, second by Kennedy. Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Moynihan, no.
Agenda Item #3-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #8 Expenses in the amount of $400.00, Warrant #9 Refunds in the amount of $136,604.24, Warrant #10 Expenses in the amount of $73,288.93, Warrant #11 March Retiree allowances in the amount of $5,893,442.88 and a redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,350,000.00, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4-Refunds
Motion made by Mantoni to accept the twenty-two (22) requests for refunds, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the requests to redeposit of refunds and the makeup of contributions for: Denise Bass School Para, for the refunds from the Hampden County Retirement System in 1990 & 1997; Celines Cruz, Elder Affairs, for the refund from MTRS in 2012; Leticia Cruz, Applications Clerk at the Springfield Housing Authority, for the refund from the Holyoke Retirement Board in 2011; Kim Demaio, School Crossing Guard, for the refund from the State Board of Retirement in 1980; Suzanne Andersen, Administrative Assistant at the IT Department, for 2 years, 6 months as a Telephone Operator; Daniel Brunton, Police officer, for 4 years, 4 months at summer DPW and Cadet Time; Jeffrey Cawley, Firefighter for 8 months, 3 weeks for summer help from School and Park Departments; Karl Evans, IT Department, for 1 year, 1 month as an IT intern; Wallace Kisiel, SHA, for 10 months prior non-membership time at SHA; Gary Lantaigne, Transportation Coordinator, for 6 months of employment at the School Department as an Intern Coordinator; Charlotte Lee, Elder Affairs, for 6 months of employment at the Springfield Redevelopment Authority; Kevin Shea, Water & Sewer Department, for Seasonal employment with Water Engineers and School Departments for 8 months, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #6-Accept Creditable Service Liability
Motion made by Mantoni to table the acceptance of 8 years, 6 months creditable service for Sharon Flanagan pending correspondence from STCC, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Motion made by Kennedy to deny the request to accept 2 years, 2 months creditable service for Christine (Prunier) Wings, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #7-Public Records Request
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request from the National Association for Black Veterans to provide them with a mailing list for current members and retirees, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability Remand-Firefighter, William Sepulveda
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy and second by Burns to enter into Executive Session and then return to Open Session. Burns, yes, Mantoni, yes, Kennedy, yes Scanlon, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss the remand for disability benefits.
Motion made by Mantoni to table the remand until the May 4, 2016 meeting pending additional information, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #9-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Ricardo Ortiz/Police
Motion by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Disability Application and approve the accidental disability benefits for Police Officer, Ricardo Ortiz, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #10-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Carmelo Toledo/Police
Motion by Burns to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Application and approve the accidental disability benefits for Police Officer, Carmelo Toledo, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #11-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Matthew Vickery/Police
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Commissioner John Barbieri for Police Officer, Matthew Vickery, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #12-Accidental Disability-James Curran/School
Motion by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Disability Application and approve the accidental disability benefits for Junior Custodian, James Curran, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #13-Accidental Disability-Luis Astacio/D.P.W.
Motion by Scanlon to table the responses of the medical panel and the Disability Application for Luis Astacio until the June 1, 2016 meeting, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Mantoni, abstained, Kennedy, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #14-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Dwayne Fields/Fire
Motion by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Application and approve accidental disability benefits for Firefighter, Dwayne Fields, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #15-Ordinary Disability-Rhonda A. Lagasse
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the Ordinary Disability application submitted by Rhonda A. Lagasse, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #16-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, presented the annual statement to the Board. Motion made by Mantoni to submit the annual statement as prepared to PERAC by May 1, 2016, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. The Director discussed having Paul Todisco from PRIM attend a future Board meeting to review investment performance. Motion made by Burns to invite Paul Todisco to a board meeting, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. The Director also presented the information received by PERAC regarding possible funding schedules as a result of the January 1, 2016 Actuarial Valuation. A meeting has been scheduled for April 21, 2016 at 11:00 am to further discuss these schedules. The Director presented information to the Board regarding the extension of Attorney ViVenzio’s contract, Board counsel, which can be extended from five to seven years under Chapter 32, Section 23B(k)(6)(i). Motion made by Burns to extend Attorney ViVenzio’s contract from five years to seven years, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously. The Director notified the Board that upon Peter Doherty’s death, a retiree of the Springfield Retirement System, information was made available in which part of Mr. Doherty’s retirement allowance may need to be withheld under the Accidental Disability guidelines.
Agenda Item #17-Attorney’s Report
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy and second by Burns to enter into Executive Session and then return to Open Session. Burns, yes, Mantoni, yes, Kennedy, yes Scanlon, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.
Agenda Item #18-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #19-New Business
None
F. Y. I.
P.E.R.A.C. Memos, #8 Actuarial Data, #9 Buyback and Make-up Repayment Worksheets, #10 Retirement Guide Mailing, #11 Tobacco List, #12 Update on Elections, #13 Update Disability Regulations, March PERAC Pension News, PERAC Newsflash, Mass Retiree Newsletters, February PRIT Fund Update, December 2015 Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for January of 2016, Monthly transfers for March, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for January, Budget Balances for March 2016, Crescendo Ventures 4th Quarter report, Recent Retiree Deaths.
Motion made by Kennedy to adjourn at 7:11 P.M. second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
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Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman
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Thomas M. Scanlon, 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