MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON FEBRUARY 7, 2024 AT 4:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Frank Arduino, Albert Innarelli, Dean Fay, Angel Reyes, Torrey Santini, David Wells, Virtual attendance-Aaron Butler, Attorney Leigh Panettiere, Sandra King- PERAC Fraud Manager and Felicia McGinniss-PERAC Attorney
Remote Participation:
Karl Schmaelzle gave adequate notice to the Chairman that he would not be present at the February 7, 2024 meeting. He participated by remote participation since he was out of state and not able to be present. Karl Schmaelzle stated his name at the beginning of the meeting.
Due to remote participation, all votes taken were by Roll Call.
Chairman Moynihan called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #1-MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A Hearing-Excess Earnings-Frank Arduino-Police Department
Chairman Moynihan stated that the purpose of the meeting was to review the additional information provided by Frank Arduino and his CPA, Albert Innarelli, as well as the information from PERAC regarding the 2017 through 2020 Excess Earnings under Chapter 32, Section 91A, after receipt of the additional information. This matter was tabled to today’s meeting at the December 6, 2023 board meeting. Attorney Felicia McGinniss from PERAC and Sandra King attended the meeting remotely. Attorney McGinniss stated that the additional affidavits were reviewed by PERAC and that due to the additional information received, the excess earnings for 2017 and 2020 are now zero. Frank Arduino would still owe for his excess earnings in 2018 and 2019. Frank Arduino provided additional testimony to the Board and PERAC. Based on this additional testimony, the Board considered reducing the amount owed in excess earnings. Motion was made by Scanlon to reduce the amount owed for 2018 to $17,500.00, and the amount owed for 2019 to $7,500.00 and to ask PERAC to review the information and send new excess earnings’ letters if approved by PERAC, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Burns to approve the minutes of the meeting held on January 10, 2024, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Aaron Butler-Police Department
The medical panel results were reviewed from the application submitted by Aaron Butler. A motion was made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Aaron Butler, the evidence of the application, and approve the Accidental Disability benefits, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item#4-Accidental Disability Application-Dean Fay-Police Department
The results of the medical panel were reviewed from the application submitted by Dean Fay. A motion was made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Dean Fay, the evidence of the application, and approve the Accidental Disability benefits, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Torrey Santini-Fire Department
Motion made by Scanlon 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 Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Thomas Belton, Director of Veterans Services with 37 years and 4 months as of January 24, 2024; Thomas Downey, Supervisor of Claims, Human Resources with 14 years and 1 month as of February 20, 2024; Anthony Grimaldi, Foreman, Department of Public Works with 32 years and 6 months as of February 4, 2024, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the fourteen (14) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #1 Expenses in the amount of $2,144.42; Warrant #2 Refunds in the amount of $115,682.57; Warrant #3 Transfers in the amount of $238,250.56; Warrant #4 Refunds in the amount of $51,615.31; Warrant #5 Refunds in the amount of $12,627.36; Warrant #6 Expenses in the amount of $76,764.55; Warrant #7 Refunds in the amount of $1,242.85; Warrant #8 Refunds in the amount of $267.74; Warrant #9 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,692,379.30 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,000,000.00, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the thirty-eight (38) 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 Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #10-New Members
Motion made by Scanlon to consider the twenty-four (24) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to approve the monthly pre-closing financial reports for the month of December as presented to the Board, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Ms. Baltazar stated that PERAC and the Board received the Vendor Disclosure Statement from Boston Millennia Partners. Executive Director Baltazar also informed the Board regarding the updates needed to our meeting conference room as well as the office. After discussion, a motion was made by Scanlon to update the technology equipment in the conference room, and to purchase the equipment for the office, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Minutes of the February 7, 2024 meeting (continued)
Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the NCPERS Annual Conference will be held from May 18, 2024 through May 22, 2024 if anyone is able to attend. She also let the Board know that the 1099R’s and Members’ Annual Statements were mailed out and that the notices for the yearly COLA have been sent out to the Mayor, City Council, Springfield Housing Authority, and Water & Sewer Commission informing them that a request to grant up to a 3% COLA increase on the COLA base of $14,000.00 to the retirees and survivors will be on the agenda for the next scheduled Board Meeting on March 6, 2024. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIM performance.
Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases, which include the matters of Smith, Goodman, Lefebvre, and Matos.
Agenda Item #14-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #15-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos: #3-Required Minimum Distribution Now Age 73 for This Year's Notifications, #4-2024 Limits under Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2002, #5-2024 Limits under Section 23 of Chapter 131 of the Acts of 2010, #6-COLA Notice, #7-Buyback and Make-up Repayment Worksheets, #8-PROSPER COLA Submission, COLA User Guide, and PROSPER Individual Account Approval Application, #9-Actuarial Data, PRIT Fund Update-December, Boston Millennia Quarterly Report, Budget Balances as of January, Monthly Transfers as of January, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Scanlon to adjourn at 5:00 P.M. second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, 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.
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Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman
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Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member
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Haskell Kennedy, Appointed Member
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Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member