MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON FEBRUARY 15, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Timothy Shink, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Scott Campion
Remote Participation: Karl Schmaelzle gave adequate notice to the Chairman that he would not be present at the February 15, 2023 meeting. He participated by remote participation since he was out of state and not able to be present. Karl Schmaelzle, stated the following at the beginning of the meeting: his full name, that he was alone, and would remain alone for the entire meeting.
Due to remote participation all votes taken will be by Roll Call.
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 January 11, 2023, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2- Involuntary Accidental Disability-Timothy Shink-Springfield Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability/Ordinary Disability Application-Scott Campion-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon yes. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A Hearing-Excess Earnings-Frank Arduino-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to table the hearing to discuss excess earnings under MGL Chapter 32, Section 91A, as requested by Frank Arduino, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuations: William Cullinan, City Solicitor 1st Associate, Law Department with 17 years and 9 months as of March 17, 2023; Philip McBride III, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 31 years and 6 months as of April 1, 2023; Darrin Padilla, Arson, Fire Department with 31 years and 9 months as of April 6, 2023; Clotilde Torres, Paraprofessional, School Department with 21 years and 4 months as of February 3, 2023; second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the fourteen (14) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #3 Expenses in the amount of $125,967.96, Warrant #4 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,371,933.13 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,700,000.00, Warrant #5 Refunds in the amount of $141,615.12, Warrant #6 Refunds in the amount of $66,658.60, Warrant #7 Transfers in the amount of $164,305.86, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the makeup of contributions according to statute:
Alesia H. Days, Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2008, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept 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 Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon,yes.
Agenda Item #10-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the thirty-eight (38) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the monthly pre-closing financial reports for the month of December as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Moynihan to approve survivor benefits to the beneficiary of William R. Yelinek of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Update on Cost-of-Living Percentage Increase–Local Option
The Retirement Board, City Council members and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno approved an additional 2% increase to the cost-of-living for our retirees and survivors retro to July 1, 2022. The Retirement Board and staff appreciate this approved benefit by the Mayor and City Council Members during these difficult times.
Agenda Item #14-Calendar for Retirement Board Member Election
Motion made by Moynihan to conduct the election by mail, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to designate Teresa D’Agostino as Election Officer, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to have the Election ballots counted on June 27, 2023, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #15-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that we have been notified of some changes to Pension Technology Group. We will monitor these updates regularly to assure that these changes do not affect the daily operations of the retirement system software. Ms. Baltazar also discussed the 2023 Affidavits - Benefit Verification Forms and informed the Board that the office will be mailing the 2023 Affidavits this year in April. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that she is continuing to work with PBI Death Index Services regarding receiving death notifications more timely to help prevent overpayments. Ms. Baltazar gave an update on the PRIM performance and also informed the Board that the NCPERS Conference will be held from May 20, 2023 through May 24, 2023 if anyone is able to attend. Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that notices for the yearly COLA have been sent out to the Mayor, City Council, as well as the Springfield Housing Authority, and the Water and Sewer Commission, informing them that a request to grant up to a 3% COLA increase to the retirees and survivors would be on the agenda for the next scheduled Board Meeting on March 1, 2023.
Agenda Item #16-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, Matos and Smith. Attorney ViVenzio also informed the Board on the court’s decision on the Patricia Wolf case. After discussion, a motion was made by Burns to not file a civil case on Patricia Wolf at this time, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Burns and second by Kennedy to enter into Executive Session and then to return to open session. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. The Board entered into Executive Session to discuss litigation.
Agenda Item #17-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #18-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos, #2 2023 Limits under Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2002, #3 2023 Limits under Section 23 of Chapter 131 of the Acts of 2010, #4 COLA Notice, #5 PROSPER Cash Books and Annual Statement Submission, #6 Buyback and Make-up Repayment Worksheets, #7 2023 Interest Rate set at 0.1%, #8 Actuarial Data, Boston Millennia Quarterly Report, Crescendo Ventures Quarterly Report, PRIT Fund, Update-December, 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 6:15 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, 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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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
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member