MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JANUARY 4, 2017 AT 4:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Philip Mantoni, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, John Reidy, Joseph Sleeper, Drew Piemonte, Victor Gomez, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Robert Williams, Attorney Charles Cassartello, Christopher Mullen, Attorney Sondra Oldach
Presentation from PTG (Pension Technology Group)
John Reidy from Pension Technology Group was at the meeting to give an overview of the Pension Administration Software Services. Mr. Reidy gave a visual presentation outlining the process of the data conversion, member and retiree modules, as well as the payroll processing. Mr. Reidy also gave a visual presentation of the web calculator that members will be able to access online. He also stated that all processing through PTG is within PERAC guidelines and is consistently being updated. The Board thanked Mr. Reidy for his presentation.
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 7, 2016, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Kennedy to accept the following Superannuations: William Accorsi, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department with 32 years as of 2/2/17; Arthur Barnes, Maintenance Tech IV, Water and Sewer Commission with 33 years and 4 months as of 2/8/17; Marie Berthiaume, Paraprofessional, School Department with 23 years and 2 months as of 12/24/16; Brenda Collins, Nurse Practitioner, School Department with 22 years and 11 months as of 12/13/16; Charlotte Lee, Employment Director, Elder Affairs with 31 years and 11 months as of 3/4/17; Debra Rooke, Police Officer, Police Department with 36 years and 2 months as of 1/2/17; Kevin Welz, Firefighter, Fire Department with 32 years as of 1/17/17, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3-Warrants
Motion made by Scanlon to approve and reaffirm the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #47 Expenses in the amount of $63,979.11, Warrant #48 Refunds in the amount of $270,692.00, Warrant #49 December Retiree allowances in the amount of $6,062,392.96 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $4,370,000.00, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Mantoni to approve the payment of thirty-five (35) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Joseph Sleeper/Fire Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Joseph Sleeper, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Scanlon to accept a request for a thirty (30) day extension made by Drew Piemonte on behalf of Attorney Joseph Donnellan, second by Moynihan. Scanlon, no, Kennedy, no, Burns, no, Mantoni, no, Moynihan, no. All opposed.
Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability-Victor Gomez/Fire Department
Motion made by Kennedy to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability-Robert Williams/Police Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Mantoni and second by Burns to enter into Executive Session and then return to Open Session. Burns, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss the member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental/Ordinary Disability benefits.
OPEN SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability-Christopher Mullen/D.P.W.
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Christopher Mullen, with the date of injury on the medical panel report noted separately on the findings of fact when submitted to PERAC, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #9-Accidental Disability-Kevin McNeish/School Department
Motion made by Burns to table the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Kevin McNeish pending receipt of additional information, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #10-Nominations for Chairman and Vice-Chairman
Chairman Moynihan asked for a motion to appoint a Chairman for one year. Motion made by Moynihan to nominate Thomas Scanlon as Chairperson for the Board, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Motion made by Scanlon to appoint Robert Moynihan as Vice Chairman, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #11-Remote Participation
Motion made by Kennedy to accept remote participation as allowed under 940 CMR 29.10, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #12-Pension Administration Software Services
After today’s presentation by PTG and evaluation of PTG’s response to the RFP for Pension Administration Software Services, a motion was made by Scanlon to hire PTG (Pension Technology Group) to provide software services to the Springfield Retirement System pending contract review, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #13-Director’s Report
The Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, informed the Board that a notice was received from PERAC stating that a retiree had excess earnings under MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A. A written notice was sent with an opportunity to be heard by the Board. Ms. Baltazar asked the Board concerning a monthly repayment plan. Motion made by Mantoni to allow six monthly installments to pay off the amount owed, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the PERAC disability approval was received for Thomas Kelliher-Facilities Management.
The Executive Director provided the Performance Evaluation Forms and procedure that is currently being used for staff increases. The staff increases will be adjusted accordingly as of January 1, 2017. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that the Staff is working on closing the 2016 calendar year, and that a meeting is being arranged for police officers and firefighters who are eligible and interested in purchasing creditable service as allowed under Chapter 235 of the Acts of 1994. These members will be notified.
Agenda Item #14-Attorney’s Report
Correspondence was received pertaining to Michael Foley’s appeal of his denial of an Accidental Disability.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy and second by Scanlon to enter into Executive Session and then return to Open Session. Burns, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss Valmore Savage’s application for withdrawal of accumulated total deductions.
Agenda Item #15-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #16-New Business
None
F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #27 Tobacco Company List, #28 Disability Data, #29 The Buyback of Call Firefighter Time, November PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of November, Budget Balances as of December, Monthly Transfers for December, Recent Retiree Deaths, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of November
Motion made by Mantoni to adjourn at 6:46 P.M. second by Scanlon 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