June 1, 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, May 31, 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 JUNE 1, 2022 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Patrick Burns, Haskell Kennedy, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Tiyra Johnson, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Aaron Hyte, Jose Marquez, Roberto Matos

Remote Participation: Attorney Joseph Donnellan

Chairman Moynihan called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the minutes of the meeting held on May 4, 2022, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Application-Tiyra Johnson-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Motion made by Scanlon to deny
the Ordinary Disability Application submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Aaron Hyte-Fire Department
Attorney ViVenzio asked questions regarding Mr. Hyte’s current employment. After discussion, a motion was made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Aaron Hyte, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Jose Marquez-Fire 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 Jose Marquez, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Roberto Matos-Police Department
Attorney ViVenzio will be forwarding the information received from Roberto Matos with additional information from the Retirement Board to PERAC. Motion made by Scanlon to reaffirm the prior vote to approve the Accidental Disability benefits of Roberto Matos, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6 -Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuations: Joanne Beauchesne, Paraprofessional, School Department with 26 years and 9 months as of June 22, 2022; Virginia Caez, Paraprofessional, School Department with 27 years and 5 months as of June 22, 2022; William Fuqua, Operations Director, Water & Sewer Commission with 40 years and 4 months as of August 13, 2022; Ronald Kenniston, Firefighter, Fire Department with 29 years and 11 months as of June 28, 2022; Richard McDonald, Junior Custodian, School Dept. with 10 years and 10 months as of July 23, 2022; Catherine Nero, Senior Clerk Typist, School Dept. with 23 years and 8 months as of July 1, 2022; Lucy Perez, Manager, School Department with 26 years and 3 months as of May 29, 2022; Barbara Smith, Senior Clerk Typist, School Department with 14 years and 8 months as of May 21, 2022; Joanne Smith, Paraprofessional, School Department with 24 years and 3 months as of June 22, 2022; Paula Thayer, Assistant Director of Recreation, Parks Department with 29 years and 11 months as of August 2, 2022, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #25 Refunds in the amount of $119,693.19, Warrant #26 Refunds in the amount of $31,470.42, Warrant #27 Transfers in the amount of $134,674.42, Warrant #28 Refunds in the amount of $118,014.33, Warrant #29 Refunds in the amount of $85,661.82, Warrant #30 Expenses in the amount of $109,638.86, Warrant #31 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,262,206.19 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,000,000.00, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the seventeen (17) 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 #9-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the redeposit of refunds to: William Baker, Control Technician, Facilities Physical Plant, for the refund from the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System in 2021; Neil Begley, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018; Maria Cataldo, Paralegal, Law Department, for the refund from the Boston Retirement System in 2001; Amanda Estrada, Program Clerk, Springfield Housing Authority, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2017; Melissa Evans, Manager, Information Systems, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021; Nathaniel Martinez, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020; Otilia Martinez, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2006; Milagros Quinones, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020; Noel Soto, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020; Eric Wallace Jr., Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Scanlon to approve survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Nelson Baez of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Scanlon to approve survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Willie C. Simmonds of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar received a contract renewal for PeoplesBank. After review, a motion was made by Burns to continue with PeoplesBank as the custodian Bank and renew the contract for an additional five years with all the terms and conditions remaining the same, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Ms. Baltazar provided an update on two outstanding Benefit Verification Forms. Executive Director Susana Baltazar informed the Board that Incumbent Board Member, Robert Moynihan, retired Springfield Police Department Lieutenant, has taken out nomination papers for the upcoming Retirement Board Election. The deadline for Nomination papers is June 10, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Executive Director Baltazar is also waiting for additional information on PERAC’s remand on Dennis Prior to send to PERAC.

Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that he has a few cases pending and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #14-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #15-New Business
Member Burns updated the Board that the City of Springfield will not be issuing Pension Obligation Bonds at this time due to market conditions. Member Burns will continue to update the Board accordingly.

F. Y. I.
PERAC Memos, #12 Forfeiture of Retirement Allowance for Dereliction of Duty by Members, April PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of April, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of March, Budget Balances as of May, Monthly Transfers for May, 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 Schmaelzle to adjourn at 5:41 P.M. second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, 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

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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Memb