MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 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, Brian Goggin, Attorney Joseph Donnellan, Matthew Cincotta, Francis Audet, Attorney Robert T. Santaniello, Luis Astacio, Emilio Arroyo, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Thomas Kelliher, Attorney Terrence Low.
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on June 1, 2016, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Mantoni to accept the following Superannuations: Patricia A. Capozza, Police Officer, Police Department, with 39 years and 7 months as of 7/23/16; Lurline A. Cignoli, Senior Clerk, School Department, with 29 years and 1 month as of 8/6/16; Michael Laprade, IT Tech, Springfield Housing Authority, with 14 years and 8 months as of 7/6/16; Orlow Nygren, Computer Technician, Police IT Department with 17 years and 8 months as of 6/2/16; Gail Pooler, Principal Clerk, School Department, with 31 years and 11 months as of 8/6/16; Gary Stalker, Maintenance Tech IV, Water/Sewer Commission with 16 years and 8 months as of 7/23/16; Marcia A. Donovan, Paraprofessional, School Department, with 16 years and 1 month as of 7/1/16, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3-Superannuation
Motion made by Mantoni to table action on Francis Audet’s Superannuation Application request until the August 10, 2016 Retirement Board meeting, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously. Any requests of information by Attorney Joseph Donnellan on behalf of Francis Audet should be sent to Attorney Alfredo ViVenzo, Board attorney, and the employer.
Agenda Item #4-Warrants
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #21 Refunds in the amount of $332,660.67, Warrant #22 Expenses in the amount of $210,182.15, Warrant #23 Expenses in the amount of $9,302.20, Warrant #24 Retiree Allowances in the amount of $5,975,441.60 with a redemption in the PRIT Fund in the amount of $4,900,000.00, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Refunds
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the twenty (20) requests for refunds, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Mantoni to approve the redeposit of refunds and makeup of contributions to: Sharon Flanagan, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield in 1993;
Lurline Cignoli, Senior Clerk Typist, School Department, purchasing first six months of employment at the School Department as a Teacher’s Aide; Judith Benoit, Paraprofessional, School Department, purchasing first six months of employment at the School Department as a Teacher’s Aide; Seamus Warwick, Project Administrator, Capital Assets, purchasing 8 months of employment at the Parks Department as a seasonal and part time worker; Sharon Flanagan, Paraprofessional, School Department, purchasing 10 months of employment at the Parks Department as a temporary employee and Water Works Department as a seasonal Clerical Aide, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #7- Accept Creditable Service Liability
Motion made by Scanlon to accept 4 years creditable service for Carmen Rosa, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability- Luis Astacio/DPW
Motion made by Scanlon to request clarification from the medical panels based on additional medical information not previously submitted, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Mantoni, abstained, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #9- Accidental Disability-Thomas Kelliher/Facilities Management
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the Accidental Disability application submitted by Thomas Kelliher, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel and receipt of documentation regarding a copy of pre-employment physical, if available, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #10-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Emilio Arroyo/Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #11-Involuntary Ordinary/Accidental Disability-Richard Davidson/Police Department
Motion made by Mantoni to accept the Involuntary Ordinary/Accidental Disability application submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #12-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Brian Goggin/Fire Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Mantoni 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 the Involuntary Accidental Disability application.
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 Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Motion made by Scanlon to accept a Voluntary Accidental Disability application for Brian Goggin pending receipt of the Physician’s Statement, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #13-Accidental Disability-Matthew Cincotta/Fire Department
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, Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss the medical panel reports for disability benefits.
Motion made by Scanlon to table the Accidental Disability application for Matthew Cincotta, until the July 28, 2016 special meeting pending receipt of additional information to be submitted to the medical panel for clarification, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #14-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Matthew Vickery/Police Department
Motion by Mantoni to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Accidental Disability application and approve accidental disability benefits for Matthew Vickery, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #15-Ordinary Disability-Rodney Dolan/Water and Sewer Commission
Motion by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Ordinary Disability Application and approve ordinary disability benefits for Rodney Dolan, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #16-Ordinary Disability-Rhonda A. Lagasse/School Department
Motion by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Ordinary Disability Application and approve the ordinary disability benefits for Rhonda A. Lagasse, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #17-Public Records Request Policy
The board discussed the Public Records Policy and asked that Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, review and update the policy for providing future public records requests.
Agenda Item #18-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar informed the Board that Haskell Kennedy, Jr. has been re-appointed to the Springfield Retirement Board for another term commencing July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2019.
Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the outside auditing firm of Powers & Sullivan will be coming for a limited audit of the System. She also informed the Board that PERAC disability approvals were received for Dwayne Fields-Fire Department, Ricardo Ortiz-Police Department, Carmelo Toledo, Jr.-Police Department and James Curran-School Department. The MACRS conference was held and many issues were discussed including an update on the social security offset, regular compensation cases, survivor benefits and a legislative update.
The Executive Director informed the Board that she received a letter from PERAC with a list of names who have not complied with their 91A reporting. A special meeting will be held on July 28, 2016 to give these retirees a chance to explain why they have not complied.
Agenda Item #19-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio informed the Board that he was awaiting the decision from DALA regarding the appeal filed by Miguel Rodriguez. Vivenzio also informed the Board that Patricia Guyer has rescinded her request to appeal.
Agenda Item #20-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #21-New Business
None
F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #17 Tobacco Company List; PERAC-Actuarial Report as of January 1, 2016, PERAC-GASB 67 and 68 Information, May PRIT Fund Update, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of May, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of May, Budget Balances as of June 2016, Monthly Transfers for June, PRIM Correspondence regarding PRIM Awards, PRIM Confirmation of Appropriation Receipt, Recent Retiree Deaths.
Motion made by Mantoni to adjourn at 6:22 P.M. second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
___________________________________________
Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman
___________________________________________
Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member
___________________________________________
Haskell Kennedy, Appointed Member
___________________________________________
Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member
___________________________________________
Philip J. Mantoni, 5th Member