MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JULY 9, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Karl Schmaelzle, Stephen Lonergan, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Luke Cournoyer, Attorney John Connor, Kelly Jones, Melissa Jones, Jeremy Rivas, Cinthya Rivas, Attorney Kevin Coyle
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #1-Election by Declaration
Motion made by Kennedy to declare Robert P. Moynihan as an elected member of the Springfield Retirement Board, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, abstain, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the open session and executive session held on June 11, 2025, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Luke Cournoyer-Fire Department
After review of the application and supporting documentation, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Kelly Jones-Fire Department
After review of the application and supporting documentation, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Applications-Jeremy Rivas-Police Department
The medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Motion was made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Superintendent Lawrence Akers, the evidence of the application, and approve the Accidental Disability benefits, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Moynihan, yes. A motion was also made by Schmaelzle to deny Ordinary Disability benefits due to the Board receiving affirmative medical panel reports for Accidental Disability benefits, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Cindy Brunton, Classroom Para, School Department with 10 years as of August 26, 2025; Casondra Carter, Sped Para Educator, School Department with 26 years and 11 months as of September 20, 2025; Helene Ford, Sped Para Educator, School Department with 16 years and 8 months as of June 27, 2025; Cheryl Mock, Sped Paraprofessional, School Department with 16 years and 6 months as of June 17, 2025; Carolyn Strong, Analyst, School IT Department, with 21 years as of September 3, 2025, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the twenty-five (25) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the redeposit of refunds and makeups to: Matthew Fontaine, Commercial Appraiser, Assessors, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Amaryllis Guzman, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refunds from the Springfield Retirement System in 2012 and 2024; Sabrina Lopez, Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2022; Lourdes Lopez Claudio, Program Specialist, Springfield Housing Authority, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Jennifer Oquendo-Adorno, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2022; Patrick Burns,Comptroller, Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, for the makeup of four months of employment with the Department of Public Works and the School Department, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following warrants: Warrant #37 Refunds in the amount of $93,985.39, Warrant #38 Transfers in the amount of $110,495.89; Warrant #39 Refunds in the amount of $9,854.08, Warrant #40 Expenses in the amount of $189,175.12, Warrant #41 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,102,678.36 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,800,000.00, second Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the twenty-two (22) 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 Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #11-New Members
Motion made by Lonergan to accept the twenty-two (22) 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. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Lonergan to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of May as presented to the Board, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Request for Proposals-Legal Services
Motion made by Moynihan to begin an RFP Process for Legal Services, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Requests for Proposals will be due on August 6, 2025 by 12:00 PM EST.
Agenda Item #14-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, updated the Board on any outstanding 91A requests for information of disability retirees who are not in compliance. After discussion, motion was made by Schmaelzle to grant an extension for them to submit their information to PERAC by August 1, 2025 for compliance. For those who are not in compliance with PERAC by August 1, 2025, the benefits will be terminated beginning on August 2, 2025, and only started again on the day that they are in compliance with PERAC, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar also provided an update on the outstanding Benefit Verification Forms. These retirees and survivors were sent reminders by mail and phone calls were made. Motion was made by Schmaelzle and seconded by Moynihan to send out another letter, certified as well as by regular mail, notifying them that their August benefits will be held until we receive the required Benefit Verification Forms. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. We were informed that it is time to update the board members’ laptops. A quote, provided by the IT Department, was presented to the board for the laptops. After review and discussion, motion was made by Moynihan and seconded by Schmaelzle to purchase the necessary laptops. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. The PRIT fund letter of incumbency was presented to the board for review and updating. After discussion, a motion was made by Kennedy and seconded by Schmaelzle to update the form and submit it to PRIM. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the receipt of the FY 2026 appropriation from all member units, cost of living increases which are effective as of July 1, 2025, and the PRIM monthly and year to date performance.
Agenda Item #15-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, and Birriel-Cruz.
Agenda Item #16-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #17-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos #16 Tobacco Company List, #17 Revised Language for Benefit Calculation Approval Letters #18 Cyber Attack #19 Updated Member and Beneficiary Refund Forms & IRS Special Tax Notice
#20 Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 3rd Quarter, 2025, PERAC Correspondence PRIT Fund Update-May, COLA Correspondence, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of May, 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 5:28 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 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