MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JANUARY 7, 2026 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Karl Schmaelzle, Patrick Burns, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Andrew Normand, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Lisa Green, Suzanne Patenaude, Attorney Charles Casartello, Fidan Gousseynoff
Remote Participation:
Haskell Kennedy gave adequate notice to the Chairman that he would not be able to be present at the January 7, 2026 meeting but would participate by remote participation. All votes taken were by Roll Call.
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M
Agenda Item #1-Nominations for Chairman and Vice-Chairman
Motion made by Schmaelzle to appoint Robert P. Moynihan as Chairman for the Board, second by Burns. Scanlon yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, abstain. Schmaelzle made a motion to appoint Thomas M. Scanlon as Vice-Chairman for the Board, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, abstain.
Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 3, 2025, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Andrew Normand-Police Department
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Motion was made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, the evidence of the application, and approve the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the acceptance of the following Superannuation Applications: Corey Brown, Laborer, Department of Public Works with 26 years and 9 months as of January 16, 2026; Donald Denault, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 35 years and 4 months as of January 31, 2026; Thomas Fay, Junior Custodian, School Department with 25 years and 1 month as of January 31, 2026; Milagros Johnson, Director, Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information, Law Department with 29 years and 7 months as of January 3, 2026; Thomas Kakley, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years and 1 month as of January 15, 2026; Wyatt Leak Jr., Manager of Transportation Services, School Department with 17 years and 1 month as of January 2, 2026; Patricia Montana, Senior Program Manager, Community Development with 38 years and 3 months as of February 28, 2026; Ana Morrissey, Sped Paraprofessional, School Department with 18 years and 3 months as of January 17, 2026; Pamela Wells, Director of Resident Services, Springfield Housing Authority with 20 years and 6 months as of January 10, 2026; Richard Williams, Gardener, Parks Department with 14 years as of January 3, 2026, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the four (4) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #76 Refunds in the amount of $162,396.36, Warrant #77 Refunds in the amount of $1,239.54, Warrant #78 Refunds in the amount of $105,982.64, Warrant #79 Transfers in the amount of $128,241.30, Warrant #80 Refunds in the amount of $61.65, Warrant #81 Expenses in the amount of $105,982.64, Warrant #82 Expenses in the amount of $93,642.24, Warrant #83 Retirement payroll in the amount of 8,282,125.60 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,600,000.00, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the seventeen (17) 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 Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the ninety-seven (97) 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, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of James E. Brookes, Jr. of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Burns to approve survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Peter Regas of the Springfield Housing Authority-Deceased, pending receipt of further pre-employment records provided by the employer, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Burns to approve the election of 12(2)(d) benefits to the beneficiary of Rene Vadnais of the Water and Sewer Commission-Deceased, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of November as presented to the Board, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Director’s Report
Deputy Director D’Agostino let the Board know that the staff is working on the 1099Rs and the Members’ Annual Statements, and that these forms will be going out by the end of the month.
Agenda Item #14-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, and Lefebvre.
Agenda Item #15-Old Business
The receipt of pre-employment physicals from members for disability applications was further reviewed. This matter was also discussed at the MACRS conference with all the retirement system directors and board members in attendance. After discussion, the Board would like to further review the policy and discuss it at a future Board meeting.
Agenda Item #16-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos 33-Violent Act Injury Disability – Recent Legislative Changes, 34-Proposed Amendment to Electronic Signature Regulations, 35-Disability Data Changes 36-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training -1st Quarter, 2026, 37-Tobacco Company List, PERAC FY 2027 Appropriation Letter, PRIT Fund Update – November, PRIT Third Quarter Report, PRIT Fund-FY2024-2025 Annual Financial Report, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of November, Budget Balances as of December, Monthly Transfers as of December, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Schmaelzle to adjourn at 5:40 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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Patrick S. Burns, Ex-Officio
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member