MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 12, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo Vivenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Michael Knowlton, Attorney Charles Casartello
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on June 14, 2023, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Accidental Disability-Michael Knowlton-Springfield Housing Authority
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability and approve the disability benefits for Michael Knowlton after reviewing the description of the injury on one of the medical panels with PERAC before their approval, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3 -Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Paul Blake, Senior Custodian, School Department with 11 years and 10 months as of July 7, 2023; Mel Kwatowski, Lieutenant, Police Department with 31 years and 1 month as of July 19, 2023, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the seven (7) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #34 Expense in the amount of $1,461.04, Warrant #35 Refunds in the amount of $236,829.08, Warrant #36 Transfers in the amount of $366,520.35, Warrant #37 Refunds in the amount of $5,389.66, Warrant #38 Refunds in the amount of 27,218.38, Warrant #39 Expenses in the amount of $1,044,357.88, Warrant #40 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,548,535.24 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,825,000.00, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the redeposit of refunds according to statue to: Kenneth Harris, Attendance Officer, School Department, for the refund from the State Retirement Board in 2016; Milagros Johnson, Director Mayors Office of Con In, Law Department, for the refunds from the State Retirement Board in 1993 & 1999; Hector Morales, Police Sergeant, Police Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2006; Jennifer Oquendo-Adorno, Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2022; Vivian Vazquez Fontanez, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the fifty (50) 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 Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the forty-one (41) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Moynihan, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the monthly trial balance, cash receipts, cash disbursements, journal entries and general ledger reports for the month of May as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, provided an update on the outstanding Benefit Verification Forms and that reminder notices have been sent out. Executive Director Baltazar gave an update on the status of the outstanding compliance requests for 91A terminations. A motion was then made by Moynihan to grant an extension for the disability retirees to be in compliance with PERAC by August 9, 2023 and for those who are not in compliance, beginning August 10, 2023, the benefits will be terminated and only started again on the day that they are in compliance with PERAC, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar reviewed the job requirements for the job posting of the Financial Analyst position with the Board and will be updating the job requirements as discussed. Ms. Baltazar also provided an update on the PRIM performance.
Agenda Item #11-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, Matos and Smith.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Moynihan and second by Burns to enter into Executive Session to discuss litigation issues and then to return to open session. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #13-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos, #14 Tobacco Company List, #15 91A Prosper Tasks, #16 Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-3rd Quarter 2023, PERAC-GASB 67/68 Information, May PRIT Fund Update, Budget Balances as of June, Monthly Transfers as of June, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 6:10 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
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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
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member