The Springfield Retirement Board Meeting Scheduled for January 13, 2021 will be held remotely as a Result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public can access the meeting remotely via GoToMeeting at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/400777709. You can also dial in using your phone.
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MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JANUARY 13, 2021 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Patrick Burns, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Jessica Henderson, Attorney Christopher Pierson, Rafael Vega, Edwin Irizarry, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Christopher Benevento, Robert Mulcahey, Gary Gebbie, Attorney Peter Moran
Absent: Philip Mantoni/sick
Agenda Item #1-Nominations for Chairman and Vice-Chairman
Chairman Moynihan asked for a motion to appoint a Chairman for one year. Motion made by Burns to appoint Thomas Scanlon as Chairman for the Board, second by Moynihan. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes. Scanlon made a motion to appoint Robert Moynihan as Vice-Chairman for one year, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 16, 2020, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Jessica Henderson-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and approve the Disability benefits for Jessica Henderson, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Rafael Vega-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and approve the Disability benefits for Rafael Vega, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-Edwin Irizarry-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and approve the Disability benefits for Edwin Irizarry, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Accidental Disability Application-Christopher Benevento-School Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability and approve Disability benefits for Christopher Benevento, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Accidental Disability Application-Gary Gebbie-School Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability Application-Juan Flores-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to table further action on the request for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Juan Flores until the February 3, 2021 Board Meeting in order to receive more documentation to submit to PERAC due to their remand, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the following Superannuations: Mary Devivo, Inspection Service Clerk, Code Enforcement with 29 years as of 2/1/2021; Edward Ebberston, Police Officer, Police Department with 33 years and 4 months as of 2/2/2021; Jose Feliciano, Police Officer, Police Department with 31 years and 11 months as of 1/1/2021; Deborah Gallant, Administrative Assistant, Law Department with 13 years and 4 months as of 1/9/2021; Samuel Hines, Junior Custodian, School Department with 26 years and 4 months as of 12/15/2020; Nancy Lee, Principal Clerk, Springfield Library with 40 years and 2 months as of 1/5/2021; Anthony Naylor, Laborer, Department of Public Works with 28 years and 8 months as of 1/6/2021; Deborah O’Malley, Principal Clerk, Police Department with 32 years as of 2/25/2021, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #66
Refunds in the amount of $119,602.46, Warrant #67 Refunds in the amount of $171,055.87, Warrant #68
Refund in the amount of $32,269.47, Warrant #69 Transfer in the amount of $1,169.98, Warrant #70
Expenses in the amount of $962,782.87, Warrant #71 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,945,518.13, and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $0.00, Warrant #1 Refunds in the amount of $19,073.93, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Burns to approve the eleven (11) 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. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the election of 12(2)(d) benefits from the beneficiary of Luis Lescano of the School Department-Deceased, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Michael Guyer of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #14-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of John Boudreau of the Police Department-Deceased, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Minutes of the January 13, 2021 Board Meeting (continued)
Agenda Item #15-Retirement Board Member Election
Motion made by Burns to adopt the revised election calendar, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes. Motion made by Scanlon to conduct the election by mail with ballots to be counted on June 23, 2021, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes. Motion made by Burns to designate Judy Dziobek as Election Officer, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #16-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that there were four disability retirees that owed monies to the Springfield Retirement System due to excess earnings under M.G.L. Chapter 32, Section 91A. Ms. Baltazar stated that one has already paid in full and that Henry Douglas, Stephen Hill and Richard Reid are asking to have the repayments deducted from their retirement allowances. Motion made by Burns to allow the repayment of the 2019 excess earnings deducted from their retirement allowances in eight monthly payments with interest according to the Board’s policy, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that the office is working on the year end process and preparing the 1099’s, the member’s annual statements, as well as the inactive member statements. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the quarterly payment of the City’s appropriation would be invested in PRIM after the monthly payroll needs.
Agenda Item #17-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that the Michael Basile bankruptcy case has been settled and that he is awaiting hearing motions on Lori Lefebvre and Harold Goodman.
Agenda Item #18-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #19-New Business
None
F. Y. I. PERAC Memos #34-Cost of Living Increase for Supplemental Dependent Allowance Paid to Accidental Disability Retirees and Accidental Death Survivors, #35-Post Retirement Work Waiver During the State of Emergency Extended to 2021, #36-2020 Disability Data, #37-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-1st Quarter 2021, #38-Questions arising in wake of Gomes decision, #39-Tobacco Company List, November PRIT Fund Update, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of November, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of November, Budget Balances as of December, Monthly Transfers for December, 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 Scanlon to adjourn at 5:42 P.M. second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Burns, 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