MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON FEBRUARY 5, 2020 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Juan Flores, Attorney Lan Kantany, Margaret Cahillane, Attorney Thomas Downey, Luis Astacio, Attorney Michael Cardaropoli, Greg Superneau, Leon Moultrie
Chairman Moynihan called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
Absent: Philip Mantoni/sick
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on January 8, 2020, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #2-Voluntary Accidental Disability Application-Juan Flores-Police Department
Motion made by Kennedy to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Juan Flores, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3-Voluntary Accidental Disability Application-Margaret Cahillane-Facilities Management
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy and second by Scanlon to enter into Executive Session and then to return to open session. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss the member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental Disability benefits.
Motion was made in Executive Session by Kennedy to table the Application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Margaret Cahillane pending clarification from the medical panel, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Luis Astacio-Department of Public Works
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Kennedy and second by Scanlon to enter into Executive Session and then to return to open session. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Executive Session to discuss the member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental Disability benefits.
Motion was made in Executive Session by Kennedy to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Luis Astacio, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #5-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the following Superannuations with an amendment to Robert Majewski’s retirement date as listed: Robert Bohl, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years and 8 months as of 2/20/2020; Jeffery Brown, Working Foreman 1, Water & Sewer Commission with 33 years and 4 months as of 2/15/2020; Norman Charest, Lieutenant, Police Department with 37 years and 2 months as of 2/1/2020; Michael Greco, District Fire Chief Commander, Fire Department with 32 years and 4 months as of 2/5/2020; Dennis Jusino, Firefighter, Fire Department with 32 years and 7 months as of 3/21/2020; Robert Majewski, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years as of 3/13/2020; Stephen Moriarty, Junior Custodian, School Department with 32 years and 9 months as of 2/13/2020; James Prior, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years and 5 months as of 4/7/2020; Joel-Bernard Stern, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years as of 3/31/2020; Deborah Weckerly, Senior Customer Representative, Water & Sewer Commission with 26 years and 10 months as of 2/12/2020; Stephen Wyszynski, Lieutenant, Police Department with 34 years and 4 months as of 1/14/2020, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #6-Warrants
Motion made by Kennedy to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #1 Expenses in the amount of $8,578.00, Warrant #2 Expenses in the amount of $4,613.57, Warrant #3 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,813,633.37 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,575,000.00, Warrant #4 Transfers in the amount of $124,218.82, Warrant #5 Refunds in the amount of $128,125.41, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the twenty (20) requests for refunds and transfers to other systems. The names have been submitted to their particular Department, the Law Department and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #8-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the makeup of contributions to: LaVallee, Doreen, Specialist, School Department, for 2 months of employment with the School Department; Tosado, John, Police Officer, Police Department, for 9 months of employment-Hampden County Retirement System, and to approve the redeposit of refunds to: Amaya Alvarado, Jimmy, Security, School Department, for the refund from Holyoke Retirement Board in 2018; Perez, Juanita, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2019; Polk Jr., Rufus, Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the State Board of Retirement in 2005, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #9-Calendar for Retirement Board Member Election
Motion made by Burns to adopt the election calendar, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Burns to conduct the election by mail with ballots to be counted on June 23, 2020, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Burns to designate Eileen Hanley as Election Officer, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #10-Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Kennedy to accept the election of 12(2)(d) benefits for the beneficiary of Thomas W. Tabb of the School Department-Deceased, second by Burns and voted unanimously.
Agenda Item #11-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, informed the Board that the PERAC disability approvals were received for Miguel Reyes-Department of Public Works, Charles Howard- Police Department, and Alberto Ayala-Police Department. The PERAC approval for 12(2)(d) benefits of Carlos Velasquez-School Department was also received. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that a notice has been sent to the Mayor and the various units informing them that a request to grant up to a 3% COLA to the retirees would be on the agenda for the next scheduled Board Meeting on March 4, 2020. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the 1099R’s and the Members’ Annual Statements have been mailed and the files for the Actuarial Valuation study have been sent to PERAC, and let Board Members know that the PERAC Statement of Financial Interests is ready for completion. The Executive Director also informed the Board that PERAC will be holding a seminar on Tapley Street regarding updates on Massachusetts and Federal Law if anyone is interested in attending, and updated the Board on the PRIT year to date performance.
Agenda Item #12-Attorney’s Report
None
Agenda Item #13-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #14-New Business
Leon Moultrie, Retired Police Officer from the Springfield Police Department, addressed the board regarding the calculation of his retirement allowance and his deductions. Mr. Moultrie stated he had met with Executive Director, Susana Baltazar to review his information. Ms. Baltazar stated they are in the process of reviewing his payments and will respond back to Mr. Moultrie.
F. Y. I. PERAC Memos #1-Tobacco Company List, #2-2018 Comparative Analysis Fee Report, #3-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 1st Quarter, #4-Investment Consultant RFPs, #5-2020 Limits under Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2002, #6-2020 Limits under Section 23 of Chapter 131 of the Acts of 2010, #7-COLA Notice, #8-Actuarial Data, #9-Buyback and Make-up Repayment Worksheets, #10-2020 Interest Rate set at 0.1%, PERAC Correspondence-Actuarial Valuation, December PRIT Fund Update, PRIM-Annual CAFR Report-FY 2019, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts,
Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of December, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of November, Crescendo Ventures-Distribution, Budget Balances as of January, Monthly Transfers for January, Recent Retiree Deaths, Monthly Cash flow
The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director.
Motion made by Kennedy to adjourn at 5:53 P.M. second by Scanlon and voted unanimously.
Minutes of the February 5, 2020 Board Meeting
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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