August 9, 2017 Meeting Minutes

MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON AUGUST 9, 2017 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Patrick Burns, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Philip Mantoni, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Edward Pikula, City Solicitor, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Richard Benoit, Lynn Vedovelli, Rena Taddia, Michael Mitchell, Attorney Lan Kantany, William Gagnon, Edward Mims

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meetings held on July 12, 2017 and July 26, 2017, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #2-Superannuations
Motion made by Burns to accept the following Superannuations: Barbara Dyer, Assessor Analyst, Assessor’s Office with 40 years as of 8/12/17; Rita Fiorentino, Senior Clerk, Police Department with 16 years and 1 month as of 8/4/17; Dana Hachigian, Forester, Water and Sewer Commission with 18 years and 8 months as of 8/31/17; Kathe Harbour, School, Manager-Magnet Program with 25 years and 11 months as of 9/30/17; John J. Kozuch, Senior Systems Developer, IT Department with 38 years and 1 month as of 8/1/17; Nilsa Nicole, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department with 40 years as of 9/6/17; Maria Rivera, Senior Clerk Typist, School Department with 24 years and 5 months as of 8/2/17; David Meehan, Asst. Director of Municipal Buildings, Facilities, with 11 years and 1 month as of 9/1/17, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #3-MGL Chapter 32 Hearing (Continued)/ Superannuation
After confirmation that Mr. Edward Mims had made full payment to the Springfield School Department for investigation costs, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the Superannuation Application for Edward Mims, Warehouse Foreman, Facilities, with 29 years and 8 months as of 4/15/17, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #4-Warrants
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the following warrants: Warrant #31 Refunds in the amount of $132,444.91, Warrant #32 Expenses in the amount of $91,014.27, Warrant #33 July Retiree allowances in the amount of $6,275,675.43, and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $0.00, Warrant #34 Expenses in the amount of $1,359.51, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #5-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the twenty (20) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Burns to approve the redeposit of a refund to: Philip McBride III, Police Officer, Police Department, for the refund from Hampden County Retirement Board in 1990, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability, Involuntary Ordinary Disability and Involuntary Superannuation Applications-Richard Benoit/Police Department
Motion made by Burns to accept the Involuntary Accidental Application submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the Application for Ordinary Disability submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the Application for Involuntary Superannuation submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #8-Involuntary Accidental Disability and Involuntary Ordinary Disability Applications-
Michael Mitchell/Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability Application submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the Ordinary Disability Application submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #9-Accidental Disability-William Gagnon/Water & Sewer Commission
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Accidental Disability Application submitted by William Gagnon, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #10- Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Kennedy to approve survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Charles Allen, Jr. of the Police Department-Deceased, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #11-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, informed the Board that PERAC has not received all the required information from disability retirees. A special meeting will be held on August 23, 2017 at 10:00 AM regarding compliance of 91A reporting and 91A terminations. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that the PERAC disability approvals were received for Timothy Collins from the School Department and Victor Gomez from the Fire Department. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that three Benefit Verification Forms/Affidavits have not been received. Retirement benefits are being held until the required Benefit Verification Forms/Affidavits are received.

Agenda Item #12-Attorney’s Report
A copy of an agreement and release order signed by Barbara Burnham, widow of Kevin Burnham releasing the balance of the Annuity Savings Account for Kevin Burnham to the City of Springfield was provided to the Board for their review. Motion made by Kennedy to accept the agreement as written releasing the Annuity Savings Account of Kevin Burnham to the City of Springfield, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously. Motion made by Mantoni to accept the waiver signed by Barbara Burnham waiving her hearing and appeal rights pursuant to c. 32 §§ 15 & 16, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Attorney Vivenzio also gave an update on one pending litigation hearing.

Agenda Item #13-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #14-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC Memos #21 Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-3rd Quarter 2017, #22 PROSPER and the Legal Review of Disabilities, #23 MTRS c. 32, section 3(8)(C) Reimbursements, #24 Cost of Living Increase for Supplemental Dependent Allowance Paid to Accidental Disability Retirees and Accidental Death Survivors, #25 The Repeal of G.L. c. 32, § 90G¾, #26 Access to PROSPER, #27 Reinstatement to Service under G.L. c. 32 § 105 with Application, PERAC Newsflash, PERAC Correspondence-Forfeiture of Retirement Allowance for Dereliction of Duty by Members, PERAC 2016 Annual Report, June PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of June, Budget Balances as of July, Monthly Transfers for July, Recent Retiree Deaths

Motion made by Mantoni to adjourn at 5:20 P.M. second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

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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