MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MARCH 6, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo Vivenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Jerona Rodgers, Jeanne Clancy, Attorney Earl Seeley, Timothy McCullough, Attorney Thomas Downey, Fidan Gousseynoff, Jorge Vega, Joshua Schimmel, Jennifer Boulais, Daniel Dirienzo, Attorney Katherine Lamondia-Wrinkle

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Schamelzle to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 7, 2024, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2 - COLA
Motion made by Scanlon to grant a 3% cost of living increase on the COLA base effective July 1, 2024 for eligible retirees and survivors, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Jerona Rodgers-School Department
After reviewing the incident and injury, a motion was made by Kennedy to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Jerona Rodgers and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Timothy McCullough-Springfield Housing Authority
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Schmaelzle to enter into Executive Session to discuss the member’s medical condition as in the application for Accidental Disability benefits of Timothy McCullough, and then to return to open session, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Based on all the information received which includes the medical records, a motion was made in executive session by Burns to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Timothy McCullough and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-Jorge Vega-Water and Sewer Commission
Jorge Vega described the injury and treatment. Attorney Vivenzio asked Mr. Vega if there was any third-party offset claim from his on-the-job injury with the Water and Sewer Commission. The required information will be sent to our office for review. Motion made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Jorge Vega and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Accidental Disability Application-Daniel Dirienzo-Water and Sewer Commission
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed from the application submitted by Daniel Dirienzo. A motion was made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Daniel Dirienzo, the evidence of the application, and approve the Accidental Disability benefits, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Roger Bunce Jr., Director of Safety and Security, Springfield Library and Museum Association with 19 years and 6 months as of February 28, 2024; Eugene D’Angelo, System Accountant, Retirement System with 39 years and 10 months as of March 30, 2024; Eugene Dean, Police Officer, Police Department with 41 years and 9 months as of March 28, 2024; Jimmie James, Assistant Mungroup Maintenance, Parks Department with 36 years and 5 months as of April 2, 2024; Gladys Rivas-Martinez, Vital Records Clerk, City Clerk’s Office with 24 years and 7 months as of February 15, 2024; Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of Parks and Building Management, Parks Department with 36 years and 10 months as of April 2, 2024; Melanie Wheeler, Principal Clerk Typist, Police Department with 35 years and 11 months as of February 16, 2024, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the forty-two (42) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #10 Refunds in the amount of $93,596.02, Warrant #11 Transfers in the amount of $316,869.72, Warrant #12 Refunds in the amount of $74,344.87, Warrant #13 Refunds in the amount of $3,997.09, Warrant #14 Transfers in the amount of $1,555.61, Warrant #15 Expenses in the amount of $128,423.92, Warrant #16 Death Refund in the amount of $37,013.11, Warrant #17 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,814,653.61 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,200,000.00, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the makeup of contributions according to statute: Thomas Ashe, Chief of Staff, Mayors Office, for six months of employment with the Parks Department; Carla Daniele, Police Officer, Police Department, for five months of employment with the Parks Department, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the forty-eight (48) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems as presented to the Board. The names have been submitted to their particular Department, the Law Department and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-New Members
Motion made by Schmaelzle to consider the forty-two (42) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #13-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar provided an update on the status of Frank Arduino’s excess earnings, and how payment was going to be made back to the Retirement System. Executive Director Baltazar also announced that Eugene D’Angelo, System Accountant, for the Springfield Retirement System, is retiring at the end of March. We wish him a very Happy Retirement and thank him for his dedication and all his years of service with the system. According with the post retirement guidelines, as discussed, Eugene can work part time as needed after retirement. Wai Si Shing will assume additional responsibilities due to Mr. D’Angelo’s retirement, as well as an increase in salary. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the staff and their primary job responsibilities according to the needs of the office. She also let the Board know that the PERAC auditors will be coming this month to begin their audit, and gave an update on the PRIM performance, and the fiduciary insurance renewal.

Agenda Item #14-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases, which include the matters of Smith, Goodman, Lefebvre, and Matos.
Agenda Item #15-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #16-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Pension Newsflash-Commission Appoints Next Executive Director, PERAC New 91A PROSPER Portal for Retirees, PRIT Fund Update-January, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of December, Budget Balances as of February, Monthly Transfers as of February, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow.

Motion made by Scanlon to adjourn at 6:00 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director and will be placed on file.

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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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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member