July 13, 2022, Meeting Minutes

If you are unable to attend the Springfield Retirement Board Meeting in person, please notify the Springfield Retirement Office by 4:30 PM on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, by emailing sbaltazar@springfieldcityhall.com to receive a link to attend the meeting remotely.

MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
SPRINGFIELD DPW CONFERENCE ROOM
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 13, 2022 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Philip Washington, Attorney Daniel Blakesley, Lloyd Smith, Rick Garib, Heriberto Rodriguez, Luis Arroyo, Attorney Charlie Cassartello, Greg Superneau, Roberto Matos, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Lynn Vedovelli

Remote Participation: Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Joseph Donnellan

Chairman Moynihan called the meeting to order at 5:10 P.M.

Agenda Item #1-Election by Declaration
Motion made by Scanlon to declare Robert Moynihan as an elected member of the Springfield Retirement Board, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the minutes of the meeting held on June 1, 2022, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability Application-Philip Washington-School Department
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Philip Washington, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Ordinary Disability Application-Lloyd Smith-Fire Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Scanlon and second by Burns to enter into Executive Session and then to return to open session. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Session to discuss the member’s physical condition as in the application for Ordinary Disability benefits.

Motion was made in executive session by Scanlon to deny the Ordinary Disability benefits based on Mr. Lloyd’s decision to waive the Ordinary Disability Retirement benefits, even though Mr. Smith received an affirmative medical panel, and approve his Superannuation Retirement benefits, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-Heriberto Rodriguez-Water and Sewer Commission
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted for Heriberto Rodriguez, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Minutes of the July 13, 2022 meeting (continued)

Agenda Item #6-Accidental Disability Application-Luis Arroyo-Department of Public Works
After reviewing the specifics of the injury, a motion was made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Luis Arroyo and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Roberto Matos-Police Department
After reviewing the PERAC Remand, a motion was made by Burns to deny the Accidental Disability benefits based on PERAC’s refusal to approve Accidental Disability benefits, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, no, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, no.

Agenda Item #8-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuations: Judith Allen, Paraprofessional, School Department with 15 years and 6 months as of July 31, 2022; Joseph Boisseau, Skilled Laborer II, School Department with 11 years and 4 months as of June 30, 2022; Sandra Cope, Paraprofessional, School Department with 11 years and 8 months as of June 27, 2022; Naomi DeChristopher, Procurement Assistant, Springfield Housing Authority with 11 years and 10 months as of July 29, 2022; Nancy Duggan, Paraprofessional, School Department with 29 years and 5 months as of July 1, 2022; Andrew Gay, Greens Superintendent, Parks Department with 24 years and 5 months as of September 17, 2022; Beatriz Flores, Principle Clerk, School Department with 23 years and 10 months as of August 1, 2022; Debra Kelly, Paraprofessional, School Department with 11 years and 1 month as of July 8, 2022; Rosa Leo, Warehouse Manager, Springfield Housing Authority with 36 years and 4 months as of June 24, 2022; Laureen Lappe, Administrative Assistant, School Department with 34 years and 8 months as of August 1, 2022; Edward Paulhus, Firefighter, Fire Department with 26 years and 11 months as of June 30, 2022; Richard Pelchar, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 33 years and 5 months as of August 20, 2022; Ludlow Price, IPP/CCCP Inspector, Water and Sewer Commission with 29 years and 9 months as of June 29, 2022; George Williamson, Foreman, Springfield Housing Authority with 36 years and 10 months as of July 9, 2022, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #32 Refunds in the amount of $103,718.45, Warrant #33 Transfers in the amount of $170,420.08, Warrant #34 Refunds in the amount of $39,293.43, Warrant #35 Expenses in the amount of $59,251.99, Warrant #36 Expenses in the amount of $8,549.69, Warrant #37 Expense in the amount of $16,471.19, Warrant #38 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,272,303.28 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $2,200,000.00, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the forty-two (42) 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 Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the redeposit of refunds to: Matthew Ferri, Compliance Project Manager, CAFO, for redeposits from the State Board of Retirement in 1993 & 1998, and for the redeposit from the Springfield Retirement System in 2001, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Motion made by Scanlon to allow the makeup of contributions to: Melissa Griffith, Manager, School Department, for 1 year of employment with the School Department and Wai Si Shing, Financial Analyst, Retirement Office, for 1 year and 2 months of employment with the Treasurer’s Department, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Isaiah Robbins, Jr. of the Police Department-Deceased, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #13-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, reviewed the Actuarial Valuation results as of January 1, 2022 which includes funding schedule alternatives as well as cost of living information regarding an increase in the COLA base. John Boorack, the PERAC Actuary, and Attorney John Parsons, Executive Director of PERAC, will present information on the January 1, 2022 Actuarial Valuation at the August 3, 2022 Board meeting at 4:00 p.m. Representatives of the City of Springfield, Springfield Housing Authority, and the Springfield Water & Sewer Commission were invited to attend the meeting. Executive Director Baltazar gave an update on the status of the outstanding compliance requests for 91A terminations. A motion was then made by Scanlon to grant an extension until the next monthly Board meeting, August 3, 2022, to obtain the required items to be submitted to PERAC, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Director Baltazar reviewed the Lease Agreement for the space at 70 Tapley Street until June 30, 2023. Motion was made by Scanlon to accept the Lease Agreement, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Director Baltazar also let the Board know that Haskell Kennedy, Jr. has been re-appointed by the Mayor to the Springfield Retirement Board for another term commencing July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025. Ms. Baltazar gave an update on the Affidavits for 2022 and the proposed PERAC regulations. After discussion, it was agreed to not send the 2022 Affidavits - Benefit Verification Forms in the year 2022 as allowed in the PERAC regulations. Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the PRIT performance.

Agenda Item #14-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that he has a few cases pending and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #15-Old Business
Member Burns updated the board that the City of Springfield put $1,500,000.00 in the pension stabilization reserve.

Agenda Item #16-New Business
None

F. Y. I.

PERAC Memos, #13-2021 Salary Verification Request, #14-Supreme Judicial Court decision in Vernava II – Action Required, #15-Tobacco Company List, #16-2022 Waiver of Section 91 Limits for Superannuation Retirees in the Public Sector, #17-2022 Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 3rd Quarter 2022, PERAC Pension Newsflash, 2021 PERAC Investment Report, May PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of May, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of April, 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 Scanlon to adjourn at 7:04 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

__________________________________________
Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman

___________________________________________
Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member

___________________________________________
Haskell Kennedy, Appointed Member

___________________________________________
Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

___________________________________________
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member