MINUTES OF THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
HELD ON, OCTOBER 7, 2015
Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Anne Leduc, Brian Tredo, Drew Piemonte, Fire Union President and Martin Bono.
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan, to approve the minutes of the meeting held on, September 2, 2015, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Kennedy, to accept the following Superannuations: Roxanna Alvarez, Paraprofessional at Milton Bradley School with 24 years and 6 months as of 9/12/15, Susan Becker, School Paraprofessional with 28 years as of 9/29/15, Lois Butler, School Crossing Guard with 23 years and 9 months as of 9/13/15, Cynthia Caporaso, School Program Manager with 18 years and 1 month as of 10/29/15, Michael Carney, Police Detective with 35 years and 9 months as of 1/3/16, Gloria Chechile, School Paraprofessional with 17 years as of 9/23/15, Sandra Harnum, School Paraprofessional with 24 years as of 12/8/15, Barbara Kiczko, Springfield Housing Authority, Acct. Clerk with 28 years and 3 months as of 1/2/16, Mary Little, School Cafeteria Worker with 14 years and 2 months as of 9/28/15, Michael Mascaro, School Facilities Manager with 39 years as of 10/3/15, Maureen Smith, School Cafeteria Worker with 15 years and 6 months as of 9/22/15, Jeanne M. Wroblewski, School Specialist with 18 years as of 10/27/15, Cynthia Staples, School Clerk Secretary with 15 years and 8 months as of 11/20/15, seconded by Moynihan and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #37-Expenses in the amount of $1,620.00, Warrant #38-Refunds in the amount of $79,582.24, Warrant #39-August Retiree Benefits in the amount of $5,951,288.87, Warrant #40-Expenses in the amount of $ 81,383.13, seconded by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4-Refunds
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the nineteen (19) applications for refunds, seconded by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to allow the redeposit of refunds and the makeup of contributions to: Janette Cartagena, School Para for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2007, Larena Clark, School Para for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2015, Raymond Estrada, Laborer with W&S from Springfield Retirement System 2002, Steven Fowler, School Para for the refund from Hampden County Ret System in 2015, Michael Puza, Laborer with W&S from Westfield Retirement System in 2014, Shantea Lopez, School Para for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2015, Doris Lane, School Para for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2010, Pamela Sergienko, School Nurse for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2013, Wisinley Leon, School Para for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2015, Kevin Duquette, Building Inspector for 25 weeks of prior Springfield temporary employment, William Talty, Parks Department for the first 6 months of employment in that department, Kevin McCaffrey, Police Officer for Cadet time of 2 years and 6 months, Vincent Valletti, Firefighter for 1 year and 7 months of employment in the W & S Comm., John F. Russell, Firefighter for 4 months and 1 week of employment at the Park & W/S Comm., John Murphy, Fire Captain for 1 year and 2 months of employment at the Park Department, seconded by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Firefighter, Brian Tredo
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical, the evidence of the involuntary application and approve accidental disability benefits, pursuant to section 94 to Firefighter Brian Tredo. Motion seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item#7-Accidental Disability-Martin Bono, School Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical, the evidence of the voluntary application and approve accidental disability benefits, pursuant to section 7 to School Building Custodian/Crossing Guard, Martin Bono. Motion seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Violation of Chapter 91 (c) – Jose Santiago, School Department
The Director informed the Board that retired Police Officer, Jose Santiago has violated section 91c by working over the number of hours allowed for rehired Retirees. The Director stated that a formal letter was mailed to Mr. Santiago informing him that he had a right to address the Board on this matter and that he did not respond. Leduc also noted that there was conversation between the School Department H.R. Manager with no resolve. Motion made by Moynihan to suspend his retirement benefits effective, October 31, 2015, seconded by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #9-Director’s Report
The Director submitted a draft of the 2016 Administrative Budget. During discussion, the Board agreed to add salary steps to the positions of Office Manager, System Accountant and Refund Coordinator. Motion by Moynihan to adopt salary steps to those positions, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
The Board also agreed to add the position of Deputy Director and to give the appointing authority of the position to the Executive Director. Motion made by Burns for the Deputy Director’s position and gives the Executive Director authority to appoint, seconded by Moynihan and voted unanimously.
The Director submitted a proposal by the City’s IT Director to upgrade the phone system. The Board asked to table that matter until more information was received from Andy Doty.
The Board discussed the part time position of the Refund Coordinator. The Director explained that the future of the administration of this System would benefit by making this position full time and that within 2 to 3 years there would be Staff retiring and it wouldn’t be necessary to refill those positions. Motion made by Moynihan to make the position of Refund Coordinator full time, seconded by Burns and voted unanimously.
The Board asked the Director to bring the 2016 Budget back to the Board for the November 4th meeting.
Agenda Item #10Attorney’s Report
Nothing at this time.
Agenda Item #11 Old Business
Agenda Item #12 New Business
The Director informed the Board that it was necessary to amend our Lease agreement with the City. Motion made by Moynihan to extend the lease for space at 70 Tapley Street until June 30, 2016, seconded by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
F. Y. I.
Recent Retiree Deaths, Treasurer’s reconciliations for August 2015 , Trial Balance, General Ledger, Receipts, Disbursement and Adjusting entries for August 2015, PRIT fund report for August 2015, Budget balances, Monthly transfers, Notice of PRIT annual meeting.
Motion made by Kennedy to adjourn at 6:30 P.M. second by Moynihan.
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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