July 14, 2021, Meeting Minutes

The Springfield Retirement Board Meeting Scheduled for July 14, 2021 was accessible remotely via GoToMeeting at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/771815749 and at the Springfield DPW
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MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 14, 2021 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Kevin Guyer, Attorney Daniel Blakesley, Attorney Michael Cardaropoli, Shawn Quinn, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Jonathan Turner, Greg Superneau, Adan Cruz

Remote: Philip Mantoni, Mark Jones

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

Agenda Item #1- Retirement Board Election Results
The Retirement Board Election results have been posted. Thomas M. Scanlon has been re-elected to the Springfield Retirement Board for the remainder of the three-year term ending June 30, 2023.

Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meeting held on June 2, 2021, second
by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Kevin Guyer-Department of Public Works
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted by Kevin Guyer, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Barbara McIntyre-School Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted by Barbara McIntyre, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Shawn Quinn-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted by Commisioner Bernard Calvi, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Jonathan Turner-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Mark Jones-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Joyce Click, Paraprofessional, School Department with 22 years and 6 months as of 7/2/21; Charles Contant, Senior Custodian, School Department with 10 years and 2 months as of 6/25/21; Michael Cross, Oil Burner Technician, Facilities Management with 27 years and 11 months as of 7/1/21; Richard Devall Jr, Systems Engineer, Technical Operations with 36 years and 6 months as of 7/31/21; William Dulude, Driver/Laborer, Department of Public Works with 23 years and 7 months as of 5/11/21; Halimah Fennell, Sr. Clerk Stenographer, Department of Health and Human Services with 37 years and 5 months as of 6/30/21; Patricia Grant, Senior Clerk, School Department with 20 years and 1 month as of 7/2/21; Scott Hanson, Principal Planner, Planning & Economic with 17 years and 3 months as of 7/10/21; Robert Hassett, Dir of Emergency Preparedness, Fire Dept with 21 years and 2 months as of 7/31/21; Daniel Maroney, Senior Custodian, School Department with 43 years and 2 months as of 6/18/21; Christopher Moskal, Executive Director, Spfld Redevelopment with 26 years and 2 months as of 8/3/21; Jan-Marie May, Speech Language Pathology Assistant, School Department with 15 years and 10 months as of 7/8/21; Joyce Powers, Paraprofessional, School Department with 34 years and 5 months as of 6/29/21; Betsy Robinson, Health Assistant LPN, School Department with 24 years and 9 months as of 6/18/21; Margaret Ross, Principal Clerk, School Department with 33years and 4 months as of 8/28/21; Joseph Santamaria, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department with 33 years and 4 months as of 7/26/21; Sharon St. Pierre, Paraprofessional, School Department with 14 years and 9 months as of 7/7/21; David Stein, Paraprofessional, School Department with 14 years and 10 months as of 6/18/21; Stephen Tyburski, Police Officer, Police Department with 28 years and 3 months as of 7/31/21; Edwin Vazquez, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years as of 7/6/21; Hai Vu, Paraprofessional, School Department with 28 years and 7 months as of 6/18/21; Deborah Walsh, Paraprofessional, School Department with 29 years and 2 months as of 6/18/21, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #32 Refunds in the amount of $203,645.47, Warrant #33 Refund in the amount of $113,305.85, Warrant #34 Transfer in the amount of $3,820.36, Warrant #35 Refund in the amount of $98,289.09, Warrant #36 Expenses in the amount of $120,827.70, Warrant #37 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,989,138.55 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $1,500,000.00, Warrant #38 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,170.58, Warrant #39 Retiree payroll in the amount of $1,718.10, second by Mantoni. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the nineteen (19) 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. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Christopher Franks, Information Services Supervisor, Library Department, for the refund from the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System in 2017;
Daisha Jones, Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020;
Jason Pratt, Mechanic III, Springfield Housing Authority, for the refund from the Northampton Retirement Board in 2015; Marissa Rodriguez, Inspector, Code Enforcement Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Motion made by Moynihan to allow the makeup of contributions to: Aaron Butler, Police Lieutenant, Police Department, for 1 year and 7 months of employment at the Police Department; Charles Contant, Facilities Physical Plant, for 4 months of employment at the Parks Department; Jessica Ricketts, Analyst, School Department, for 1 year and 2 months of employment at the School Department; Brian Rossini, Crime Analyst/Web Developer, Police Department, for 2 months of employment while at the University of Massachusetts, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Selection of Fifth Board Member
After reviewing the information from the candidates for the Fifth Board Member position, the Board asked Executive Director Baltazar to set up interviews for the August 4, 2021 Board meeting, to begin at 4:00 PM.

Agenda Item #13-MGL Chapter 32 Hearing on Retirement/Rights/Status/Benefits-Lizzy Ortiz-Community Development-Continued from June 2, 2021 Board Meeting
The parties are trying to resolve this matter. A motion was made by Moynihan to table the matter to the August 4, 2021 Board meeting, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #14-Director’s Report
Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that we have received the PERAC Disability approvals for Edwin Irizarry-Police Department, Jessica Henderson-Police Department, Rafael Vega-Police Department and Michael Raimer-Fire Department. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that the yearly Benefit Verification forms were in the process of being mailed to retirees and survivors.

Agenda Item #15-Attorney’s Report
Regarding the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood on Adan Cruz, additional information will be submitted to PERAC due to their remand. The matter of Patricia Wolf is continued to September 10, 2021, and the decisions on Harold Goodman and Lori Lefebvre are pending at DALA.

Agenda Item #16-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #17-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC 2020 Investment Report, #16-Coronavirus Reopening Memo, #17-Follow Up: Certain Coronavirus Emergency Measures Extended, #18-Updated Member and Beneficiary Application for Distribution of Accumulated Total Deductions Form, #19-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-3rd Quarter, 2021, #20- Tobacco Company List, May PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of May, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month
of May, Monthly Transfers for June, Budget Balances as of June, 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 5:46 P.M. second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

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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