MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON APRIL 3, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo Vivenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Daniel McKay, Attorney Kevin Coyle

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the open session and executive session minutes of the meeting held on March 6, 2024, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Ordinary/Accidental Disability Applications-Daniel McKay-Police Department
Motion was made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by the Police Superintendent, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. After some discussion, a motion was made to amend the original motion to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits and instead, accept the application for Ordinary/Accidental Disability benefits, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Jose Aponte, Police Officer, Police Department with 30 years as of May 25, 2024; Carmen Ayala, Police Officer, Police Department with 31 years and 2 months as of April 27, 2024; Christopher Bates, Police Officer, Police Department with 33 years and 4 months as of April 26, 2024; Cheryl Clapprood, Police Superintendent, Police Department with 45 years as of April 9, 2024; Kathleen Collins, Executive Assistant to Fire Commissioner, Fire Department with 25 years as of July 1, 2024; Alberto Diaz, Firefighter, Fire Department with 36 years and 7 months as of April 30, 2024; Melissa Griffith, Transportation Manager, School Department with 20 years and 4 months as of March 9, 2024; Richard James, Working Maintenance Foreman, Parks Department with 25 years and 9 months as of April 30, 2024; Richard Lafreniere, Maintenance Tech IV, Water & Sewer Commission with 32 years and 5 months as of June 1, 2024; Clayton Roberson Jr, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 36 years and 6 months as of March 15, 2024; Melissa Shea, Esquire, Chief of Human Resources, School Department with 20 years and 9 months as of July 10, 2024; Ronald Sheehan, Police Lieutenant, Police Department with 35 years and 3 months as of April 1, 2024; Lourdes Soto, Executive, School Department with 21 years as of May 1, 2024, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Burns to approve the four (4) 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 #5-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #18 Refunds in the amount of $216,101.21, Warrant #19 Refunds in the amount of $10,679.42, Warrant #20 Transfers in the amount of $221,849.94, Warrant #21 Refunds in the amount of $34,129.68, Warrant #22 Expenses in the amount of $111,661.91, Warrant #23 Expenses in the amount of $394,393.69, Warrant #24 Expenses in the amount of $1,016.63, Warrant # 25 Retirement payroll in the amount of 7,733.243.49 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,700,000.00, Warrant #26 Expenses in the amount of $2,852.00, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the Fifty (50) 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 Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7-New Members
Motion made by Burns to consider the twenty-six (26) 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 #8-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, presented the Annual Statement to the Board. After review, a motion was made by Burns to approve and submit the 2023 Annual Statement, as prepared, to PERAC before the May 1, 2024 deadline, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Ms. Baltazar also reminded Board members that the 2023 Statement of Financial Interests is due on May 1, 2024 if not yet completed. Ms. Baltazar also let the Board know that the Affidavits/Benefit Verification Forms for 2024 were going to be mailed out on April 19, 2024. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIM performance.

Agenda Item #9-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases, which include the matters of Smith, Goodman, Lefebvre, and Matos.

Agenda Item #10-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #11-New Business
None

Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos #10-2024 Tobacco Company List, #11-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 2nd Quarter 2024, Post Retirement Earnings Information, PRIT Fund Update-February, Budget Balances as of March, Monthly Transfers as of March, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow.

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

Motion made by Schmaelzle to adjourn at 5:20 P.M. second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

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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