MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MARCH 4, 2026 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Lisa Green, Attorney Kevin Coyle Remote Participation: Haskell Kennedy gave notice to the Chairman that he would not be able to be present at the March 4, 2026 meeting, but would participate by remote participation. All votes taken were by Roll Call.

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 4, 2026, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2 - COLA
Motion made by Scanlon to grant a 3% cost of living increase on the COLA base effective July 1, 2026 for eligible retirees and survivors, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Natasha Rodriguez-Police Department
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Motion was made by Scanlon 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. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Burns to approve the acceptance of the following Superannuation Applications: Timothy Allen, City Councilor, City Council with 16 years as of February 11, 2026; Maureen Bonavita, Senior Program Manager, Community Development with 37 years and 5 months as of March 28, 2026; Debra Burns, Oral Health Program Coordinator, Health Department with 19 years and 6 months as of March 3, 2026; Scott Casineau, Junior Custodian, School Department with 40 years as of March 31, 2026; Zoraida Cruz, Sped Para Educator, School Department with 32 years as of March 1, 2026; Lisa DeSousa, Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department with 22 years as of May 9, 2026; Edward Geier Sr., Police Captain, Police Department with 40 years as of March 4, 2026; Stephen Jankiewicz, Traffic Engineering Foreman, Department of Public Works with 32 years as of April 7, 2026; James Laurila, Operations Director, Water and Sewer Commission with 19 years and 5 months as of March 17, 2026; Margaret Merrill, Contract Administrator, Department of Public Works with 40 years and 10 months as of April 4, 2026; Jennifer Santamaria, Administrative Assistant, Fire Department with 26 years and 7 months as of February 14, 2026; Jo Ann Smith, Land Steward, Water and Sewer Commission with 14 years and 9 months as of May 1, 2026, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Minutes of the March 4, 2026 meeting (continued)

Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the six (6) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Burns to accept the redeposit of refunds to: Jennifer Wands, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2019, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes. Motion made by Burns to accept the makeup of contributions according to statute: Jennifer Wands, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department, for one year of employment with the School Department, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #10 Refunds in the amount of $111,419.69, Warrant #11 Refunds in the amount of $40,734.05, Warrant #12 Transfers in the amount of $48,572.72, Warrant #13 Expenses in the amount of $5,000.00, Warrant #14 Expenses in the amount of $5,000.00, Warrant #15 Expenses in the amount of $373,568.19, Warrant #16 Expenses in the amount of $71,311.11, Warrant #17 Refunds in the amount of $2,216.90, Warrant #18 Refunds in the amount of $192.16, Warrant #19 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,381,838.41 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,500,000.00, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the forty-four (44) 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. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #9-New Members
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the thirty-six (36) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Burns, Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Bruce Glover of the Police Department-Deceased, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of John Ottomaniello of the Water & Sewer Commission-Deceased, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that we will be participating in the Pre-Retirement Seminar at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center on March 17, 2026. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the Affidavits/Benefit Verification Forms for 2025 will be mailed on April 17, 2026, and the Board Election notices will be mailed on March 24, 2026. She also let the Board know that the staff will be working on the inactive members and process any remaining refunds. Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the PRIM performance and stated that PERAC is working on the 1-1-26 Actuarial Valuation.

Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, and Lefebvre.

Agenda Item #14-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #15-New Business
None

Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos 10-Actuarial Data, PERAC Pension News, 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 Scanlon to adjourn at 5:30 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.

The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director and will be placed on file.

_________________________________________
Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman

__________________________________________
Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member

__________________________________________
Haskell O. Kennedy, Appointed Member

__________________________________________
Patrick S. Burns, Ex-Officio

__________________________________________
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member