July 10, 2019 Meeting Minutes

MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 10, 2019 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Philip Mantoni, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Judy Dziobek, Recording Clerk, Harold Goodman, Attorney Katherine Lamondia Wrinkle, Robert Fancy, Kate Fancy, Lynn Vedovelli, Rena Taddia, Kiesha Fairley, Amber Bach, Christian Bach, Christopher Guyer

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 June 12, 2019, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to approve the Executive Session minutes for Miguel Reyes from the meeting held on June 12, 2019, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.
Motion made by Mantoni to approve the Executive Session minutes for Alberto Ayala from the meeting held on June 12, 2019, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #2–MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A
Christian Bach was present at the meeting and was given forms to submit his information to PERAC. After an update from Executive Director Baltazar on the status of the outstanding compliance requests for 91A terminations, a motion was made by Moynihan to grant an extension until August 7, 2019, the next Board meeting, to obtain the required items to submit to PERAC, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Applications-Robert Fancy-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel with one correction, the evidence of the Involuntary Accidental Disability Application and approve the disability benefits for Robert Fancy submitted by Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, second by Burns and voted unanimously. Another motion was made by Mantoni to deny the Involuntary Application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Applications-Keisha Fairley-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously. Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-Christopher Guyer-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability Application and approve the disability benefits for Christopher Guyer, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #6-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Kevin Kennedy, Chief Development Officer, Planning and Economic Development with 18 years as of 8/3/19; Laurie Lamoureaux, Paraprofessional, School Department with 28 years and 4 months as of 7/5/19; Patricia Letourneau, LPN, School Department with 11 years and 5 months as of 6/27/19; Elizabeth Weinschenk, Paraprofessional, School Department with 15 years and 4 months as of 6/18/19; Michael Scibelli, Fire Captain, Fire Department with 32 years as of 7/22/19; Albert Witkowsky, Sergeant, Police Department with 32 years and 11 months as of 6/29/19, second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Warrants
Motion made by Kennedy to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #30 Transfers in the amount of $133,470.73, Warrant #31 Refunds in the amount of $181,286.11, Warrant #32 Expenses in the amount of $78,647.84, Warrant #33 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,594,104.59 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,610,000.00, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #8-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and the thirteen (13) 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 Kennedy and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #9-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the makeup of contributions to: Lisa Goodrow, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department, for 1 year 2 months of employment with the School Department and City Councilor Orlando Ramos, City Council, for 5 years 1 month of employment with the Springfield City Council, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #10–Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Moynihan to grant 12(2)(d) benefits to the beneficiary of Linda Camano of the School Department-Deceased, second by Burns and voted unanimously.

Agenda Item #11-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that four Benefit Verification Forms/Affidavits have not been received and that no further retirement benefits will be paid to these retirees until the forms are received and that the PERAC disability approval for Paul Bradley-Fire Department was received. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that PERAC will be holding its informational Emerging Issues Forum on September 12, 2019 at Holy Cross, Worcester MA. Director Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIM year to date performance.

Agenda Item #12-Attorney’s Report

Harold Goodman, Jr./School Department-Hearing of Offset Claim on Third Party Recovery-Continued from the June 12, 2019 meeting.
Harold Goodman and his attorney, Katherine Lamondia Wrinkle, appeared before the board for a hearing regarding an Offset Claim on Third Party Recovery. Attorney Vivenzio addressed the board about the facts regarding the M.G.L. c. 32, §14A hearing. Harold Goodman, Jr. suffered an injury in his capacity as a Junior Custodian with the School Department and was awarded Accidental Disability benefits based on his permanent disability. The Springfield Retirement System was not made aware of a claim filed by Mr. Goodman’s attorney against a Third Party. Based on the recommendation by Attorney ViVenzio to recover the monies for lost wages, a motion was made by Burns to recover 30% of the gross settlement, second by Moynihan and voted unanimously.

Attorney ViVenzio also updated the Board on a few pending cases and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #13-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #14-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #17-Tobacco Company List, #18-Audits, May PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of May, Crescendo Ventures-Distribution, Budget Balances as of June, Monthly Transfers for June, 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 Mantoni to adjourn at 5:50 P.M. second by Kennedy and voted unanimously.

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Thomas M. Scanlon, Chairman Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

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Robert P. Moynihan, Elected Member Philip J. Mantoni, 5th Member

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Haskell Kennedy, Appointed Member