MINUTES OF THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING HELD ON, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Philip Mantoni, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Anne Leduc, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Enrique Rosario, Greg Superneau, Drew Piemonte, Dwayne Fields, Michael Guyer, Resenia Fields, David Franco, Attorney Robert Santaniello, Luis Astacio
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy, to approve the minutes of the meeting held on, October 7, 2015, seconded by Moynihan and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Allen Butler-Inspector Assessors Dept. with 12 years and 11 months as of, 1/18/16, Mary Fleury-Sr. Clerk Typist Police Department with 22 years and 5 months as of, 1/19/16, Bettye Frederic-Deputy Health Commissioner with 38 years and 4 months as of 10/30/15, Deborah Landry-Para Boland Elementary School with 16 years and 11 months as of, 11/14/15, James McCoubrey-Facilities Maintenance Coordinator with 35 years and 7 months as of, 1/5/16, Angel Rivera-Water & Sewer Foreman II with 35 years as of, 2/6/16, Lisa Placanica-Principal Clerk Police Dept. with 18 years as of, 1/2/16, Edward Burnham-Police Officer with 32 years as of, 1/5/16, seconded by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3-Warrants
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #41-Expenses in the amount of $15,092.41, Warrant #42-Refunds in the amount of $162,364.82, Warrant #43-August Retiree Benefits in the amount of $5,846,194.45, Warrant #44-Expenses in the amount of $45,834.32, seconded by Moynihan and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4-Refunds
Motion made by Mantoni to accept the ten (10) applications for refunds, seconded by Moynihan and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Redeposit of Refunds
Motion made by Burns to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Rebecca Herrera-School LPN Para for the refund from the State Board of Retirement in 2013, Luz Negron-Clerk at SHA for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2010, Nathalie Wayland-School Para for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2013, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #6-Termination of Retirement Benefits
After discussion, a motion was made by Mantoni to terminate the pension benefits for Retiree, Peter Doherty for failure to comply with MGL c. 32 s. 8 (a), seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Ordinary or Accidental Disability-Enrique Rosario/Fire Department
Motion by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Application and approve accidental disability benefits for Firefighter, Enrique Rosario, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Dwayne Fields/Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Commissioner Joseph Conant for Firefighter, Dwayne Fields and request that P.E.R.A.C. convene a medical panel, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #9-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Michael Guyer/Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Commissioner Joseph Conant for Firefighter, Michael Guyer and request that P.E.R.A.C. convene a medical panel, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #10-Involuntary Accidental Disability-David Franco/Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Commissioner John Barbieri for Police Officer, David Franco and request that P.E.R.A.C. convene a medical panel, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #11-Accidental Disability-Luis Astacio/DPW Traffic Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Accidental disability application submitted by Mr. Astacio and to request that P.E.R.A.C. to convene a medical panel seconded by Kennedy, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes. Mantoni recused himself
Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Motion made by Burns to accept the 2016 Administrative Budget, seconded by Kennedy. Voted unanimously
Executive Director, Anne Leduc submitted the draft of the Independent Audit Report performed by Powers & Sullivan. Pat Burns stated that a representative from Powers & Sullivan will attend next month’s meeting for discussion.
Agenda Item #13 Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio informed the Board that Suzanne DeFranco withdrew her DALA appeal.
Attorney ViVenzio stated that Columbia Gas is getting ready to settle the case for Firefighter Alexander. Attorney ViVenzio asked the Board to allow the Director to accept the offer. Motion made by Moynihan authorizing Executive Director, Anne Leduc to accept the settlement of $285,000.00 for offset rights, from Columbia Gas Company on behalf of Firefighter, Ty Alexander, seconded by Kennedy. Voted unanimously
Agenda Item #14 Old Business
None
Agenda Item #15 New Business
The Director asked the Board to consider benefits to the surviving spouse of Kent Friberg who passed away on October 15th.
Motion made by Moynihan to grant Section 9 benefits to Vicki Alfano Friberg, survivor of Firefighter Kent Friberg, seconded by Kennedy. Voted unanimously
The Director asked the Board to consider the accidental disability application submitted by Attorney Blakesley representing School Custodian, James Curran. The Director stated that the School Department does not respond timely with the employer’s statement filing, leaving the member’s application hanging. The Attorney stated that the Board should have more information concerning this case and asked to the Board to table this matter until an administrative hearing was done. Motion made by Moynihan to table the application submitted by James Curran, Junior Custodian at the Springfield School Department pending further information, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
F. Y. I.
Treasurer’s reconciliations for September 2015, Trial Balance, General Ledger, Receipts, Disbursement and Adjusting entries for September 2015, PRIT fund report for September 2015, Monthly transfers for September and October 2015, Budget balances as of, September 30, 2015, Recent Retiree Deaths, Boston Millennia 3rd Quarter report
Motion made by Moynihan to Adjourn at 5:51 P.M. second by Burns
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Thomas M. Scanlon, Chairman
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Robert P. Moynihan, 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