December 6, 2017, Meeting Minutes

MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON DECEMBER 6, 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, Raymond Wyszynski, Kim Wyszynski, Lynn Vedovelli, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Michael Mitchell, Robin White, James Griffin, Jaquan Davis

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

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

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application and Ordinary Disability Application-Raymond Wyszynski/Police Department
Motion made by Mantoni to deny the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the application for Involuntary Ordinary Disability submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Michael Mitchell/Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Michael Mitchell, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application and Ordinary Disability Application-Jose Diaz/Police Department
Motion was made by Moynihan to deny the request for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits and Involuntary Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner John Barbieri based on the results of the majority of the medical panel, medical information and the findings of the Board throughout the fact finding process, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #5-Ordinary Disability-Robin White/School Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Robin White and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application and Involuntary Ordinary Disability Application-James Griffin/Fire Department
After a brief discussion with Mr. Griffin regarding his current medical condition, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability submitted by Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Burns and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Ordinary Disability submitted by Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Jaquan Davis/Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Jaquan Davis, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #8- MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A Hearing-Excess Earnings-Christian Bach/Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to table the 91A Hearing for Christian Bach until the January Board meeting on January 3, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at the request of Mr. Bach and his Attorney, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #9-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Michele Beaudoin, Nurse, Health Department with 17 years and 3 months as of 11/18/17; Joseph Bobianski, Firefighter, Fire Department with 32 years and 1 month as of 1/6/18; Karen Cliché, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department with 32 years and 1 month as of 12/30/17; Matthew Donnellan, HR Manager, Water & Sewer Commission with 32 years as of 2/10/18; James Hundley, Building Custodian B, Facilities with 23 years and 5 months as of 2/3/18; John M. Keefe, Firefighter, Fire Department with 30 years and 1 month as of 1/8/18; Bonnie Laporte, Manager, School Department with 19 years and 1 month as of 12/30/17; Pia McGhee, Dental Hygienist, Health Department with 10 years and 5 months as of 2/1/18; David M. Murphy, Maint.Tech I, Water & Sewer Commission with 30 years as of 1/29/18; Timothy Rahilly, Firefighter, Fire Department with 30 years and 2 months as of 1/6/18; Jose J. Rodriguez, Firefighter, Fire Department with 32 years as of 1/2/18; Mark J. Rolland, Lieutenant, Police Department with 38 years and 9 months as of 1/4/18; Daniel Torres, Lieutenant, Fire Department with 32 years as of 1/6/18, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Vote to consider the request to rescind a Superannuation Application:
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the request to rescind the Superannuation Application for Raymond Wyszynski, Police Officer, Police Department, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #10-Warrants
Motion made by Mantoni to approve and reaffirm the payment of the following warrants: Warrant # 54 Expenses in the amount of $1,316.71, Warrant # 55 Transfers in the amount of $49,147.42, Warrant # 56 Refunds in the amount of $140,864.42, Warrant # 57 Expenses in the amount of $61,621.05, Warrant # 58 November Retiree allowances in the amount of $ 6,265,708.44, and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $ 4,890,000.00, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #11-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the seven (7) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #12-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Kennedy to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Stephanie Jenkins, LPN, School Department, purchasing 7 months at the School Department as a Paraprofessional in 2010; Mickey Rodrigues, Security, School Department, purchasing 1 year and 9 months at the School Department as a Custodian in 2016; Jamie Serrano Jr., Paraprofessional, School Department, purchasing 1 year at the School Department as a Paraprofessional in 2015; Lisa Torres, Paraprofessional, School Department, purchasing 9 months at SHA as a Program Clerk in 2013, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #13 Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Kennedy to approve survivor benefits, §101, to the beneficiary of Paul Lucas, Jr. of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #14 Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Moynihan to approve survivor benefits, §101, to the beneficiary of John J. Stevens of the Police Department-Deceased, second by Mantoni and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #15-Meeting dates for Calendar Year 2018
Motion made by Mantoni to approve the meeting dates for 2018, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #16-Director’s Report
Susana Baltazar, Executive Director, informed the Board that the PERAC approvals for survivor benefits, §101, to the beneficiary of Russell Mercier of the Police Department-Deceased and Accidental Disability benefits for Mark Giannini were received. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that she had received an opinion letter from PERAC regarding the Group status for a Traffic Engineering Foreman and a Traffic Signal Technician. This information will be distributed to the affected parties. Director Baltazar let the Board know that the PERAC auditors will be coming on December 12th to begin their audit. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that a survey was received from Crescendo Ventures to see if the Board may be interested in liquidating assets that are currently held with Crescendo Ventures. The Board decided that they were not interested at this time.

Agenda Item #17-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio informed the Board that a case that is currently at DALA will possibly have a delay since the Attorney for Luis Astacio has been offered a Judgeship and he is trying to find another Attorney to represent his client.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Moynihan and second by Burns to enter into Executive Session and then return to open session. Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes Moynihan, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Executive Session to discuss a legal matter.

Agenda Item #18-Old Business
Board Member Burns stated that a Finance Sub-Committee Meeting was recently held regarding the Pension Liability. Burns stated that Member Moynihan and Chairman Scanlon were also present. The pension liability was discussed in detail, as well as the funding status of the Retirement System.

Agenda Item #19-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #33 New Fraud Prevention Poster, #34 Administrator’s Training (November 14,
2017)-Location Change, 2016 Schedule 7 Fee Report from PERAC, PERAC-Appropriation for Fiscal Year
2019, October PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of October, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of September, Budget Balances as of November, Monthly Transfers for November, Recent Retiree Deaths, Revised Financial Statements for Year Ended December 31, 2016 from Powers & Sullivan, Boston Millennia Partners 2nd Quarter Reports, Correspondence from Crescendo Ventures, Crescendo Ventures 3rd Quarter Report.
Minutes of the December 6, 2017 Board Meeting (continued)

Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 5:55 P.M. second by Mantoni 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