MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 11, 2018 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Philip Mantoni, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Raymond Wyszynski, Kim Wyszynski, Drew Piemonte, Nelson Fiega, Kevin Welz, Eric Walker

Chairman Moynihan called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.

Agenda Item #1-Minutes Motion made by Mantoni to approve the minutes of the meeting held on June 12, 2018, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #2-Accidental Disability Application-Raymond Wyszynski-Police Department Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the first medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Raymond Wyszynski, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Kennedy to accept the responses of the second medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Raymond Wyszynski, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Nelson Fiega-Fire Department Motion made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Nelson Fiega, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Kevin Welz-Fire Department Motion made by Mantoni to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Kevin Welz, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-Eric Walker-School Department Motion made by Mantoni to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Eric Walker, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #6-Superannuations Motion made by Burns to approve the following Superannuations: Mark Anthony, Deputy Police Chief, Police Department with 35 years and 6 months as of 7/12/18; Kerry Hotaling, Civil Engineer I, DPW-Engineering, with 10 years 2 months as of 7/6/18; Dorothy McNamara, Accounts Payable, Police Department with 17 years and 6 months as of 6/23/18; Ann Marie O’Keefe, Community Health Nurse, Health Department with 31 years as of 6/30/18; Arthur Santos, Working Foreman II, Water & Sewer Commission with 24 years and 1 month as of 6/30/18, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Warrants Motion made by Mantoni to approve and reaffirm the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #24 Refunds in the amount of $34,106.08, Warrant #25 Transfers in the amount $151,667.76, Warrant #26 Refunds in the amount of $102,050.57, Warrant #27 Expenses in the amount of $82,397.17, Warrant #28 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,365,311.85 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,000,000.00 second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #8-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems Motion made by Burns to accept the nineteen (19) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems. The names have been submitted to their particular Department, the Law Department and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #9-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions Motion made by Mantoni to allow the makeup of contributions to: Kevin Fitzgerald, Police Officer, Police Department for 8 months of employment at the DPW Dept. as a Summer Laborer; Thomas Scanlon, Police Officer, Police Department for 2 years 2 months of employment at the Police Department as a Cadet, and to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Gilberto Escobar, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield in 2017; Timothy Jackson, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from Springfield in 2018; John Parrott, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from West Springfield in 2016; Sebastian Villanueva, Security Guard, School Department, for the refund from Springfield in 2015; and Danielle Witherspoon, Administrative Assistant, Veterans Department, for the refund from Springfield in 2011, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #10- Update on the Requests for Proposals-Legal Services Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, informed the Board that as today, the Board has not yet received any responses to the Requests for Proposals on Legal Services. The due date is on July 23, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. EST. The responses will be opened on July 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

Agenda Item #11-Director’s Report Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, informed the Board that the PERAC disability approval was received for James Griffin-Fire Department. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board about having 21 retirees who have not returned their Benefit Verification Form. They were sent reminders and phone calls were made. Motion made by Scanlon to send a certified letter notifying them that their July benefit will be held until we receive the required Benefit Verification Form, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that PERAC will be holding its informational Emerging Issues Forum on September 13, 2018 at Holy Cross, Worcester MA, as well as a PERAC Administrator’s Seminar on August 16, 2018 in Northampton, MA. Director Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIM year to date performance. Director Baltazar, as well as Chairman Moynihan, updated the Board that the PERAC Audit for the four year period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016 was completed and that we should be receiving the Audit Draft very shortly.

Agenda Item #12-Attorney’s Report Attorney ViVenzio stated that he has the hearing for Luis Astacio scheduled for August 10, 2018 and several cases pending and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #13-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #14-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC Memos #18-Vernava Follow Up: Compliance with PERAC Memoranda, #19-Tobacco Company List, #20-PROSPER and Compliance with the 91A Process, PERAC-GASB 67 and 68 Information, PRIM Correspondence-CFA Society Boston Announcements, May PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of May, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of April, Budget Balances as of June, Monthly Transfers for June, Recent Retiree Deaths

The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and Executive Director.

Motion made by Scanlon to adjourn at 5:50 P.M., second by Burns 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