MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON OCTOBER 5, 2016 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Philip Mantoni, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Recording Clerk, Executive Director Susana Baltazar, Thomas Kelliher, Mark Giannini, Timothy Collins, Attorney Joseph Donnellan, Attorney Charles Cassartello
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on September 7, 2016, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the following Superannuations: Anna Calvanese, Senior Clerk, School Department, with 32 years as of 12/2/16; Richard J. Davidson, Police Officer, Police Department, with 28 years and 1month as of 9/30/16 ; Edward Hannifin, Library Associate, Library, with 17 years and 4 months as of 10/1/16; Lisa Kane, Paraprofessional, School Department, with 32 years and 3 months as of 10/29/16, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve the payment of the following warrants: Warrant #34 Expenses in the amount of $13,108.78, Warrant #35 Expenses in the amount of $11,709.40, Warrant #36 Refunds in the amount of $236,726.39, Warrant #37 Expenses in the amount of $24,351.77, Warrant #38 September Retiree allowances in the amount of $6,065,498.83 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,175,000.00, Warrant #39 Refunds in the amount of $26,700.49, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4-Refunds
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the payment of the twenty-three (23) requests for refunds, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the redeposit of refunds to: Karla Camacho, Para, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement in 2011; Walter Davis, Custodian, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement in 1990; Marco Diaz, Para, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement in 2015; Kevin Morrow, Firefighter, Fire Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement in 2010; Maureen Neal, After School Coordinator, School Department for refunds from the State Retirement Board in 1973 and from Springfield Retirement in 1996; Julio Vergne, Para, School Department, for the refunds from Springfield Retirement in 2014 & 2015, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Motion made by Mantoni to approve the makeup of contributions for: Michael Knowlton, Mechanic, Springfield Housing Authority, purchasing 3 years 9 months of employment at the Springfield Housing Authority as a temporary worker, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #6- Accidental Disability-Thomas Kelliher/Facilities Management
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Thomas Kelliher, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #7- Accidental Disability-Timothy Collins/School Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Scanlon and second by Kennedy 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 member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental Disability benefits.
Motion made by Kennedy to table the Accidental Disability application for Timothy Collins until the November 2, 2016 board meeting. Additional information is required from Attorney Cassartello and the Employer, including the Employer’s Statement, before the Board can take action on the Application for Accidental Disability benefits for Timothy Collins, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Involuntary Accidental Disability/Ordinary Disability-Mark Giannini/Fire Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy and second by Mantoni 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 member’s physical condition as in the Involuntary Application for Accidental Disability/Ordinary benefits.
Motion made by Mantoni to accept the Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability application submitted by Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the Member’s Accidental Disability application pending receipt of the required Physician’s statements and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #9- Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Kennedy to grant Section 9 Benefits to Myrna Montesdeoca, surviving spouse of Thomas M. Bargalla of the Water & Sewer Commission, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #10-Director’s Report
The Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, has filed the Public Records Policy that was adopted by the Board. Instructions on how to submit Public Records Requests will be posted on our website.
Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board that the retiree, who had excess earnings under MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A, has paid the amount owed and PERAC will be notified.
A notice was received from PERAC stating that David H. Harvey’s benefits under Chapter 32, Section 8(a)(1) shall be promptly terminated. A written notice will be sent regarding the termination to Mr. Harvey, to give him an opportunity to be heard by the Board. The member may appeal this termination to the Contributory Retirement Appeal Board. Upon receipt of this information, a motion was made by Mantoni to terminate benefits pursuant to MGL Chapter 32, § 8(a)(1) for David Harvey, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that all Benefit Verification Forms/Affidavits have been received.
A representative from Powers & Sullivan will be present at the November meeting instead of today’s meeting. Ms. Baltazar let the Board know that the draft of the independent audit report performed by Powers & Sullivan is being revised to include the GASB information relating to the 1-1-16 Actuarial Valuation.
Ms. Baltazar reported to the Board that we are still having difficulties with the computer software provider. The Executive Director will contact the current software provider regarding the program issues and contract, and report back to the Board. The Executive Director will also obtain more information on the Office Equipment to present to the Board.
The Executive Director submitted a draft of the 2017 Administrative Budget. Salary steps, education expenses and computer hardware expenses were further reviewed. The Board asked Ms. Baltazar to bring the 2017 budget back to the Board at the November 2, 2016 meeting.
The Executive Director also informed the Board that PERAC disability approvals were received for Rodney Dolan-Water and Sewer Commission, and Rhonda Lagasse-School Department, as well as PERAC approval for 12(2)(d) survivor benefits for the beneficiary of Steven Frappier-Police Department.
Agenda Item #11- Attorney’s Report
None
Agenda Item #12- Old Business
None
Agenda Item #13- New Business
None
F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #23 Tobacco Company List, PRIT Fund Update, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of August, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of August, Budget Balances as of September 2016, Monthly Transfers for September, Recent Retiree Deaths
Motion made by Mantoni to adjourn at 6:45 P.M. second by Scanlon 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