MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JUNE 14, 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, Scott Campion, Thomas Zarelli, Raul Gonzalez, Norberto Diaz, Douglas Converse, Attorney Margaret Shea, John Fortin, Attorney Neil Phillips, Haley Daigneault, Rick Garib
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #1-Election by Declaration
Motion made by Schmaelzle to declare Thomas M. Scanlon as an elected member of the Springfield Retirement Board, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, abstained.
Agenda Item #2-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meeting held on May 3, 2023, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Scott Campion-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Involuntary Accidental Disability and approve the disability benefits for Scott Campion pending the completion of a refund buyback, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Thomas Zarelli-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Thomas Zarelli and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability/Ordinary Disability Application-Raul Gonzalez-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Kenneth Arzon-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan 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. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Accidental Disability Application-Douglas Converse-Water and Sewer Commission
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Douglas Converse and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability Application-John Fortin-School Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by John Fortin and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Julie Andruszkiewicz, Crossing Guard, School Department with 10 years and 8 months as of July 10, 2023; Sandra Butler, Paraprofessional, School Department with 32 years as of June 21, 2023; John Collins, Rehabilitation Supervisor, Community Development with 30 years as of June 12, 2023; Howard Coro, Project Coordinator, Springfield Housing Authority with 10 years as of July 17, 2023; Eduardo Diaz, Mechanic II, Springfield Housing Authority with 23 years and 2 months as of July 7, 2023; George Jacques Jr., Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years as of July 18, 2023; James Mascaro, Senior Custodian, School Department with 40 years and 9 months as of July 7, 2023; Gregory Pandoli, Garage Foremen, Department of Public Works with 15 years and 5 months as of June 3, 2023; Alan Raiford, Foreman II, Water and Sewer Commission with 41 years and 8 months as of August 1, 2023; Nydia Rivera-Rodriguez, Attendance Officer, School Department with 33 years as of June 2, 2023; Timothy Sheehan, Police Officer, Police Department with 31 years and 5 months as of July 20, 2023; Patrick Sullivan, Air Conditioner Repairman, Parks Department with 28 years and 8 months as of July 18, 2023, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-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 #11-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #25 Expenses in the amount of $80.39, Warrant #26 Retirement payroll in the amount of $18,245.40, Warrant #27 Transfers in the amount of $441,514.11, Warrant #28 Refund in the amount of $9,957.25, Warrant #29 Refunds in the amount of $157,993.66, Warrant #30 Refunds in the amount of $151,023.47, Warrant #31 Expenses in the amount of $78.99, Warrant #32 Expenses in the amount of $69,068.11, Warrant #33 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,508,900.12 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,700,000.00, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the makeup of contributions according to statute: Ann Rettura, Police Officer, Police Department, for five months of employment with the Police Department, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to accept the redeposit of refunds to: Megan Anzalotti, Vital Records Clerk, City Clerks, for the refund from the Mass Teachers Retirement System in 2011, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the thirty-five (35) 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 #14-New Members
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the forty-three (43) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #15-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to approve the monthly trial balance, cash receipts, cash disbursements, journal entries and general ledger reports for the month of April as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #16-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, provided an update on the outstanding Benefit Verification Forms. Ms. Baltazar also gave an update on the PRIM performance and the investment of the fiscal year 2024 appropriation to be received by July 3, 2023. The Executive Director asked to hire a qualified individual for the position of Financial Analyst. The Board agreed to hire a Financial Analyst and to give the appointing authority of this position to the Executive Director. The salary is to commensurate depending on knowledge and experience.
Agenda Item #17-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, Matos, Smith and Wolf. Attorney Vivenzio will continue to update the Board accordingly.
Agenda Item #18-Old Business
Agenda Item #19-New Business
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos, #13-2022 Salary Verification Request, April PRIT Fund Update, Boston Millennia Quarterly Reports, Budget Balances as of May, Monthly Transfers as of May, Recent Retiree Deaths,
List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 5:44 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
Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member