MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON AUGUST 14, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Karl Schmaelzle, Stephen Lonergan, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Jameson Williams, Derek Slattery, Attorney Leigh Panettiere
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #1- Minutes
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 9, 2025, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Accidental Disability Application-Jameson Williams-Police Department
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Motion was made by Schmaelzle to accept the responses of the medical panel for the Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Jameson Williams, the evidence of the application, and approve the Accidental Disability benefits, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Derek Slattery-Police Department
Attorney Panettiere asked to address the Board and discuss the medical information and incident report.
EXECTUIVE SESSION: Motion was made by Moynihan to enter into Executive Session pursuant to open meeting law exception #1, discussion of physical condition, as in the application for Voluntary Accidental Disability benefits of Derek Slattery, and then to return to open session, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
After discussion and review of the application and additional medical information received with the application, a motion was made in executive session by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Derek Slattery, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Joseph Brodeur, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years and 1 month as of August 16, 2025; Nicholas Cordero, Working Foreman, Clean City Parks Department with 37 years and 1 month as of September 30, 2025; Noemi Cruz, Paraprofessional, School Department with 30 years and 6 months as of July 18, 2025; Ruth Estabrook, Sped Paraprofessional, School Department with 24 years and 11 months as of September 3, 2025; Joseph Giordano, Junior Custodian, School Department with 25 years and 7 months as of July 15, 2025; Junett Guzman, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department with 40 years and 8 months as of August 2, 2025; Tricia Joseph, Program Manager, Community Development with 23 years and 6 months as of August 1, 2025; Timothy Skorka, Sr. Program Manager, Community Development with 39 years as of September 27, 2025; second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the fifteen (15) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #42 Refunds in the amount of $93,081.57, Warrant #43 Transfers in the amount of $132,428.39, Warrant #44 Refunds in the amount of $26,548.94, Warrant #45 Expenses in the amount of $97,051.24, Warrant #46 Refunds in the amount of $777.59, Warrant #47 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,298,187.75 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $0.00, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the fifty (50) 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 Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the twenty-two (22) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of June as presented to the Board, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Request for Proposals-Legal Services
The Executive Director provided the responses received by the August 6, 2025 deadline to the Board. After review and some discussion, the Board asked the Executive Director to put the matter on the September 10, 2025 meeting agenda to consider the responses and to vote for an Attorney/Legal Firm for Legal Services from the responses received, after their review.
Agenda Item #11-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar gave an update on one outstanding compliance request for 91A terminations, as well as a report on any excess earners from 2024. Ms. Baltazar let the Board know that ten Benefit Verification Forms have not been received and are still outstanding. The checks of these ten retirees/survivors will be held until the affidavits are received. Ms. Baltazar let the Board know that the Emerging Issues Forum will be held on September 17, 2025 in Westborough for those who can attend, as well as a PERAC Administrator’s training seminar in Northampton on August 20, 2025. Ms. Baltazar also gave an update on the PRIM performance.
Agenda Item #12-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, and Birriel-Cruz.
Agenda Item #13-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #14-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos #21 FY2026 Budget and the Definition of Wages in Chapter 32, #22 Fraud Alert, #23 Cost of Living Increase for Supplemental Dependent Allowance Paid to Accidental Disability Retirees and Accidental Death Survivors, #24 Reinstatement to Service Under G.L. c. 32 Section 105, PRIT Fund Update-June, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of June, Budget Balances as of July, Monthly Transfers as of July, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Schmaelzle to adjourn at 5:25 P.M. second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and Executive Director, and will be placed on file.
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Thomas M. Scanlon, Chairman
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Robert P. Moynihan, Elected Member
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Haskell O. Kennedy, Appointed Member
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Stephen J. Lonergan, Ex-Officio
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member