MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MARCH 5, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Karl Schmaelzle, Stephen Lonergan, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, William T. Keefe, PERAC Executive Director, Commissioner Bernard Calvi, Luis Ribeiro, Attorney Chelsea Choi, Alexander Rodriguez, William Lee, Joshua Cruz-Birriel, Attorney Leigh Panettiere, Anthony Johnson, Attorney Anthony Facchini, Tina Soto
Remote Participation:
Haskell Kennedy gave adequate notice to the Chairman that he would not be able to be present at the March 5, 2025 meeting but would participate by remote participation. Due to remote participation, all votes taken were by Roll Call.
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #1 - COLA
Motion made by Moynihan to grant a 3% cost of living increase on the COLA base effective July 1, 2025 for eligible retirees and survivors, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the open session and executive session minutes of the meeting held on February 5, 2025, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Luis Ribeiro-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-William Lee-Fire Department
After reviewing the medical panel reports and supporting documentation, a motion was made by Schmaelzle to accept the responses of the medical panel for the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, the evidence of the application, and approve the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Anthony Johnson-Water and Sewer Commission
An application for Accidental Disability benefits was received on Anthony Johnson. On February 5, 2025, an application for Superannuation Retirement benefits was approved by the board on Anthony Johnson. Mr. Johnson stated that he would prefer to retire on a Superannuation retirement instead of an Accidental Disability retirement. After discussion, a motion was made by Schmaelzle to deny the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Executive Director Joshua Schimmel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Accidental Disability Application-Joshua Cruz-Birriel-Fire Department
Motion was made by Lonergan to reopen the matter and review additional information received regarding the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Joshua Cruz-Birriel, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion was made by Moynihan to enter into Executive Session to further discuss the member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental Disability benefits of Joshua Cruz-Birriel due to additional information received, and then to return to open session, second Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
After discussion and reviewing the additional information that was given to the Board on Joshua Cruz-Birriel, a motion was made in executive session by Moynihan to reschedule the medical panel appointments and to submit the additional information to the medical panels for their review, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, no, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Robert Anderson, Maintenance Tech IV, Water and Sewer Commission with 18 years and 1 month as of May 2, 2025; Vincent Derose, Sr., Civil Engineer I, DPW Engineering Department with 37 years and 5 months as of April 3, 2025; Nelson Escobar-Vidot, Custodian, School Department with 13 years and 6 months as of February 28, 2025; Beth Joffe, Community Training Officer, Fire Department with 37 years as of March 4, 2025; Chantal Keating, Vital Records Clerk, Clerk’s Office with 37 years and 10 months as of May 6, 2025; Robert Lafond, Jr., Senior Custodian, Facilities Department with 12 years and 8 months as of March 7, 2025; Joseph Lanucha, Glazier, Facilities Department with 32 years and 6 months as of March 13, 2025; John Mastrangelo, Director, Facilities Department with 22 years and 11 months as of March 15, 2025; John Papineau, Maintenance, Museums with 20 years and 6 months as of March 11, 2025; Derek Slattery, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 28 years and 5 months as of March 25, 2025; Devon Williams, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 36 years and 6 months as of June 7, 2025, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Superannuation Calculations
Motion by Moynihan to approve the seven (7) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the redeposit of refunds to Jose Camacho, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Doris Rosario, Senior Center Coordinator, Elder Affairs, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Sebastian Villanueva, Assistant Assessor II, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2015 and the refund from the State Retirement Board in 2021, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #9 Refunds in the amount of $113,801.62, Warrant #10 Refunds in the amount of $69,697.37, Warrant #11 Refunds in the amount of $22,529.57, Warrant #12 Transfers in the amount of $141,740.77, Warrant #13 Expenses in the amount of $318,006.16, Warrant #14 Expenses in the amount of $67,043.91, Warrant #15 Refunds in the amount of $1,826.30, Warrant #16 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,012,807.13
and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,500,000.00, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the sixty-three (63) 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, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the thirty (30) 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 #13-Director’s Report
PERAC’s Executive Director, William T. Keefe, was present at the Board meeting to meet Board members and make himself available for any questions that the Board may have. Mr. Keefe updated the Board on recent topics and gave a very informative presentation. The Board thanked Mr. Keefe and PERAC for all they do at PERAC. Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that postcards for 91A forms were sent out by PERAC to all disability retirees giving them the option to complete their forms online. Ms. Baltazar also let the Board know that the Affidavits/Benefit Verification Forms for 2024 were going to be mailed out in April. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIM performance.
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
None
Agenda Item #16-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Correspondence-Open Meeting Law Waivers Expiring March 31, 2025, PRIT Fund Update-January, Budget Balances as of February, Monthly Transfers as of February, Recent Retiree Deaths
List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Kennedy to adjourn at 6:30 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 the 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