April 3, 2019, Meeting Minutes

MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON APRIL 3, 2019 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present:  Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Philip Mantoni, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo Vivenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Jose Alves, Rosa Alvaro-Alves, Attorney Christine Narcisse, Edward Seder, Lisa Seder, Attorney Lan Kantany, Charles Howard, Robert Fancy, Gerald Larose, Attorney Earlon Seeley, Christopher Guyer

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on March 6, 2019, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #2-Accidental Disability Application-Edward Seder-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Edward Seder, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Applications-Charles Howard-Police Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION:  Motion made by Mantoni and second by Kennedy to enter into Executive Session and then return to open session.  Mantoni, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Executive Session to discuss the member’s physical condition as in the applications for Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability benefits.

A motion was made in Executive Session by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Ordinary Application submitted by Former Commissioner John Barbieri and Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

A motion was also made in Executive Session by Moynihan to deny the Involuntary Accidental Application submitted by Former Commissioner John Barbieri and Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Application-Robert Fancy-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.  Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-Christopher Guyer-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Christopher Guyer, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #6-Accidental Disability Application-Jose Alves-School Department
Motion made by Burns to accept the responses of the medical panel clarification, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Jose Alves, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Accidental Disability Application-Gerald Larose-Building Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Gerald Larose, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #8-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuations: Joseph Barker, Lieutenant, Fire Department with 31 years as of 5/3/19; Geneva Caffee, Library Associate, Springfield Library with 28 years and 3 months as of 3/30/19; Linda Dion-Landry, Insurance Clerk, Personnel Department with 33 years and 9 months as of 6/29/19; Donald Garvey, Skilled Laborer II, Water & Sewer Commission with 16 years and 9 months as of 4/12/19; Gerald Larose, Zoning Code Inspector, Building Department with 11 years and 4 months as of 3/13/19; John Lewis, Zoo Coordinator, Park Department with 38 years and 1 month as of 4/13/19; Frances Rooke, Community Health Advocate, Health Department, with 17 years and 11 months as of 4/16/19; Margaret Skelley, Senior Clerk, Springfield Library with 32 years as of 4/13/19, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Mantoni to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #13  Transfers in the amount of $117,874.77, Warrant #14 Refunds in the amount of $169,409.20, Warrant #15  Expenses in the amount of $ 52,110.44, Warrant #16 Expenses in the amount of $87,294.79, Warrant #17  Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,563,223.48 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,000,000.00, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #10-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the twenty-one (21) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems. The names have been submitted to their particular Department, the Law Department and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #11-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the makeup of contributions to: David Cotter, Deputy Director, Housing Department, for 1 month of employment at the Code Enforcement Department; Martin Lobik, Sanitary Engineer, Water & Sewer Department, for 1 year of employment at the DPW and Water Departments; Garrett Sullivan, Administrative Officer, Fire Department, for first 6 months of employment at the Collectors Department, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Motion made by Moynihan to approve the redeposit of refunds to: Kencin Junior II, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2017; Jasmine Milner Abakeh, Licensed Practical Nurse, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2014, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #12-Benefits under Section 9/Section 101
After reviewing the application for Section 9 benefits, a motion made by Moynihan to grant Section 9 benefits to the beneficiary of Gary Mitchell of the Police Department-Deceased, second by Burns and voted unanimously.  A motion was also made by Moynihan to grant Section 101 benefits until final PERAC approval is received. 

Agenda Item #13- Director’s Report
Executive Director Susana Baltazar presented to the Board the Vendor Disclosure Statements that were received from Boston Millennia Partners and Crescendo Ventures.  Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that she has received the Medical Panel Certificates for James Moriarty who went through a medical panel as part of a Restoration to Service process.  Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel for the restoration process, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.  Ms. Baltazar stated that the PERAC disability approval was received for Kevin Welz-Fire Department, and the PERAC Section 12(2)(d) approval of Kevin Chicklowski–Facilities was also received.  Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the PRIT year to date performance and reminded Board Members that the Statement of Financial Interests is due by May 1, 2019.  The Director also informed the Board that the NCPERS Conference will be held from May 19, 2019 through May 22, 2019, and the Spring MACRS Conference will be held from June 1, 2019 through June 5, 2019 if anyone is able to attend.  A pre-retirement seminar will also be held on April 25, 2019 at the Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center.

Agenda Item #14-Attorney’s Report
EXECUTIVE SESSION:  Motion made by Moynihan and second by Kennedy to enter into Executive Session and then return to open session.  Mantoni, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on the DALA appeal of Luis Astacio.  The Board Attorney also stated that he has a few cases still pending and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #15-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #16-New Business  
Board Member Burns informed the Board that the transfer to the Pension Fund of $1,117, 986.90 was made from the FY 2018 Certified Free Cash.  The effective date of the transfer was March 28, 2019.

F. Y. I.
PERAC Memos, #12-Tobacco Company List, February PRIT Fund Update, PRIM Correspondence–PRIT Compliant Presentation FY 2018, PRIM Correspondence-PRIM GIPS Standards, Crescendo Ventures-Distribution Information, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the months of January and February, Budget Balances as of March, Monthly Transfers for March, Recent Retiree Deaths


The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director.

Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 6:00 P.M. second by Burns and voted unanimously.


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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