MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON AUGUST 14, 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, Quinton Rogers, Dennis Borrero, Hector Morales, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Brian Fitzgerald, Thomas Fitzgerald, Charles Rhodes, Samuel Eady, Attorney John Connor, Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, Angel Caquias

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Burns to approve the minutes of the meetings held on July 10, 2024 and July 30, 2024, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Quinton Rogers-Police Department
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Motion was made by Schmaelzle to accept the responses of the medical panel for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by the Police Department, the evidence of the application, and approve the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Dennis Borrero-Police Department
Attorney ViVenzio asked questions regarding Mr. Borrero’s treatments. After discussion, a motion was made by Scanlon to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Hector Morales-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Ordinary Disability Application-Brian Fitzgerald-Water and Sewer Department
The medical panel results were reviewed. Motion was made by Schmaelzle to accept the responses of the medical panel for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Brian Fitzgerald, the evidence of the application, and approve the Ordinary Disability benefits, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Involuntary/Voluntary Accidental Disability Applications-Charles Rhodes-Fire Department
Two applications for Accidental Disability retirement were submitted for Charles Rhodes. Motion made by Scanlon to deny the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. A motion was also made by Schmaelzle to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Charles Rhodes, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Samuel Eady-Fire Department
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Motion was made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the majority of the medical panel for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, the evidence of the application, and approve the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Denise Bass, Classroom Para Educator, School Department with 18 years and 3 months as of August 15, 2024; Gregg Bigda, Police Officer, Police Department with 29 years and 8 months as of August 2, 2024; Diane Collura, Speech Language Assistant, School Department with 25 years and 8 months as of September 4, 2024; Leo Florian, Mediator, Health Department with 40 years and 1 month as of September 28, 2024; Felicia Gasque, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department with 25 years and 5 months as of August 7, 2024; Christopher Hitas, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 34 years and 5 months as of October 19, 2024; Mary Sowers, Sped Para Educator, School Department with 35 years and 6 months as of October 10, 2024, second by Schmaelzle. Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Scanlon, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the twelve (12) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Scanlon, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Burns to accept the redeposit of refunds to: Alisha Cameron, Home School Attendance Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Theresa Glenn, Gambling Program Coordinator, Health Department, for the refund from the State Retirement Board in 2015; Matthew Goodchild, Building Inspector, Building/Code Enforcement Department, for the refund from the State Retirement Board in 2017; Iris Santiago, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020; Mickey Rodrigues, Junior Custodian, School Department, for the refunds from the Springfield Retirement System in 2016 and 2018, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Warrants
Motion made by Scanlon to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #44 Refunds in the amount of $73,326.03, Warrant #45 Expenses in the amount of $34,818.93, Warrant #46 Transfers in the amount of $327,496.89, Warrant #47 Refunds in the amount of $16,671.61, Warrant #48 Refunds in the amount of $33,946.22, Warrant #49 Expenses in the amount of $89,241.43, Warrant #50 Transfers in the amount of $64,379.45, Warrant #51 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,037,477.42 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $0.00, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the thirty (30) 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 #13-New Members
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the thirty (30) 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 #14-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of June as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #15-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar gave an update on the two outstanding compliance requests for 91A terminations. Ms. Baltazar also let the Board know that seventeen Benefit Verification Forms have not been received and are still outstanding. The checks of these seventeen retirees/survivors will be held until the affidavits are received. Ms. Baltazar also gave an update on the PRIM performance.

Agenda Item #16-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases, which include the matters of Smith, Goodman and Lefebvre.

Agenda Item #17-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #18-New Business
None

Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos #19-Reinstatement to Service under G.L.c. 32 § 105 and Application, #20-Cost of Living Increase for Supplemental Dependent Allowance Paid to Accidental Disability Retirees and Accidental Death Survivors, PERAC Correspondence, June PRIT Fund Update, Boston Millennia Quarterly Report, FY2025 Cola Report, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of May, Budget Balances as of July, Monthly Transfers as of July, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow

Motion made by Scanlon to adjourn at 5:30 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

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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member