June 2, 2021, Meeting Minutes

The Springfield Retirement Board Meeting Scheduled for June 2, 2021 was accessible remotely as a Result of the COVID-19 pandemic via GoToMeeting at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/558490197 and at the Springfield Retirement Conference Room while observing guidelines due to Covid-19.
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MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON JUNE 2, 2021 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Attorney Alfredo Vivenzio, Attorney David Wenc, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk

Remote: Philip Mantoni, Haskell Kennedy, Lizzy Ortiz, Adan Cruz, Attorney Kevin Coyle

Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 5:05 P.M.

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meeting held on May 5, 2021, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Adan Cruz-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Brenda Bates, Principal Clerk, School Department with 24 years and 11 months as of 7/3/21; Joyce Bushey, Paraprofessional, School Department with 15 years and 1 month as of 6/18/21; Rosemary Coughlin, Paraprofessional, School Department with 12 years and 5 months as of 6/18/21; Mary Duval, Assistant Treasury Analyst, Treasurer’s Dept. with 41 years and 9 months as of 6/30/21; Diane Hood, Paraprofessional, School Department with 15 years and 8 months as of 6/18/21; William Kieda Jr., AFJ ROTC Instructor, School Department with 20 years and 4 months as of 8/14/21; Frances Marafioti, Assistant Treasury Analyst, Treasurer’s Department with 39 years and 3 months as of 6/30/21; Patricia Pellerin, Paraprofessional, School Department with 30 years and 3 months as of 6/18/21; Kevin Shea, Resident Manager, Water & Sewer Commission with 37 years and 11 months as of 5/24/21; Steven Roy, Firefighter, Fire Department with 27 years and 11 months as of 5/15/21; Thomas Sticco, Senior Custodian, School Department with 11 years as of 6/2/21; Andrea Stone, Public Records Coordinator, City Clerk’s Office with 17 years and 1 month as of 6/30/21; Judith Torres, Paraprofessional, School Department with 31 years and 6 months as of 6/18/21; Kenneth Turowsky, Police Sergeant, Police Department with 32 years as of 7/10/21; Luis Velazquez, Mechanic I, Springfield Housing Authority with 27 years and 8 months as of 6/12/21, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #27 Refunds in the amount of $193,648.75, Warrant #28 Transfers in the amount of $79,290.65, Warrant #29 Refunds in the amount of $40,384.04, Warrant #30 Expenses in the amount of $1,308,581.40, Warrant #31 Retiree payroll in the amount
of $6,986,186.83 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,150,000.00, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the twenty (20) 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. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Charles Caldwell Sr., Security Guard, School Department, for the refunds from the Springfield Retirement System in 1979 and 2019; Karen Grant, Senior Clerk Typist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2001; Steffanie Sage, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the West Springfield Retirement System in 2020; Timothy Sheehan, Chief Development Officer, Planning/Economic Development Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 1993; William Vezina Jr. Park Foreman, Park Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2003; second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Motion made by Moynihan to allow the makeup of contributions to: Timothy Sheehan, Chief Development Officer, Planning/Economic Development Department, for 4 months of employment with the Park Department, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Selection of Fifth Board Member
Motion made by Moynihan to repost the position of the Fifth Member of the Springfield Retirement Board on the PERAC website, the Springfield Retirement Board website, as well as the MMA website, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that the PERAC disability approval was received for Juan Guzman from the Springfield Housing Authority. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that the Lease agreement was received for space at 70 Tapley Street until June 30, 2022 with the City. Motion made by Moynihan to accept the Lease agreement, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes. Executive Director Baltazar also informed the Board that a Request for Information was made for the Office Copy Machine Lease. After review of the information, a motion was made by Moynihan to continue with New England Business Machines and to allow Executive Director Baltazar to sign the Lease agreement, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that a Request for Information was made for the Office Security System and after review of the information, a motion was made by Moynihan to continue with the services provided by I.B.S. Electronics and Security, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIT year to date performance.

Agenda Item #9-MGL Chapter 32 Hearing on Retirement/Rights/Status/Benefits-Lizzy Ortiz-Community Development
The matter was called and discussed. Attorney ViVenzio presented information on notice sent to Ms. Ortiz. The notice was sent certified return receipt and regular mail. Ms. Ortiz acknowledged receipt. Attorney Wenc then presented the details of the City claim. Ms. Ortiz then presented her version of the facts. Ms. Ortiz expressed an interest in resolving the matter with her employer. Motion made by Moynihan to table the matter to the July 14, 2021 Board meeting, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the matters of Patricia Wolf and Harold Goodman.

Agenda Item #11-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #12-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC-GASB 67 and 68 Information, April PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of April, Monthly Transfers for May, Budget Balances as of May, Recent Retiree Deaths

The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director.

Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 6:30 P.M. second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, 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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Philip J. Mantoni, 5th Member