MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON FEBRUARY 5, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Karl Schmaelzle, Stephen Lonergan, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Benjamin Bouffard, Attorney John Connor, Lloyd Smith, Attorney Joseph Donnellan
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 8, 2025, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Benjamin Bouffard-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Paul Arpin-Fire Department
Motion made by Lonergan to rescind the prior vote to proceed with the Involuntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi on Paul Arpin based on the additional information presented to the Board, and that Mr. Arpin has returned to work with no restrictions, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Lloyd Smith-Fire Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Moynihan to enter into Executive Session to discuss the member’s medical condition as in the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits of Lloyd Smith, and then to return to open session, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
After discussion and reviewing the additional information received, a motion was made in executive session by Lonergan to accept the responses of the medical panel for the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, the evidence of the application, and approve the Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: David Cuoco, Manager, Parks Department with 39 years as of January 28, 2025; Joseph Hogan, Senior Custodian, School Department with 43 years as of March 15, 2025; Tommy Horne, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years and 11 months as of March 4, 2025; Anthony Johnson, Working Foreman, Water and Sewer Commission with 33 years and 3 months as of April 8, 2025; Celeste Montessi, Para Educator, School Department with 18 years and 4 months as of February 26, 2025; Virginia Santiago, Senior Clerk, Springfield Library with 25 years as of February 2, 2025; Maureen Tipton, Library Associate, Springfield Library with 36 years and 5 months as of March 29, 2025, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the eleven (11) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Warrants
Motion made by Lonergan to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #1 Expenses in the amount of $3,383.63, Warrant #2 Refunds in the amount of $253,021.23, Warrant #3 Refunds in the amount of $76,325.48, Warrant #4 Transfers in the amount of $189,214.34, Warrant #5 Refunds in the amount of $122.08, Warrant #6 Expenses in the amount of $109,578.89, Warrant #7 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,989,925.81 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,300,000.00, Warrant #8 Expenses in the amount of $1,292.22, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the sixteen (16) 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 Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the forty-six (46) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of December as
presented to the Board, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes,
Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Calendar for Retirement Board Member Election
Motion made by Schmaelzle to conduct the election by mail, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Lonergan to designate Teresa D’Agostino as Election Officer, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Schmaelzle to have the Election ballots counted on
July 24, 2025, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Executive Director Susana Baltazar notified the Mayor, City Council, Springfield Housing Authority, and Water & Sewer Commission 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 March 5, 2025 scheduled Board Meeting. Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the PRIM performance and let the Board know that the NCPERS Annual Conference will be held from May 18, 2025 through May 22, 2025 if anyone is able to attend. Ms. Baltazar also stated that the 1099R’s and Members’ Annual Statements were mailed and that the staff is working on the year-end information. Ms. Baltazar also let the Board know that our office has received a request from the MA Retirees Association for a list of retirees and surviving spouses. This information has been provided in the past so that the association can provide information to them directly.
Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman and Lefebvre.
Agenda Item #14-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #15-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos #1-2025 Interest Rate set at 0.1%, #2-Repeal of the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, #3-Required Minimum Distribution: Still Age 73 for This Year’s Notifications, #4-2025 Limits under Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2002, #5-2025 Limits under Section 23 of Chapter 131 of the Acts of 2010, #6-COLA Notice, #7-Buyback and Make-up Repayment Worksheets, #8-Investment Manager Statements in PROSPER and User Guide, #9-Actuarial Data, PERAC Pension News, PERAC Funded Ratios as of December 31, 2024, PRIT Fund Update-December, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of December, Budget Balances as of January, Monthly Transfers as of January, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 5:25 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, 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 O. Kennedy, Appointed Member
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Stephen J. Lonergan, Ex-Officio
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member