MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MARCH 1, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk

Remote Participation: Haskell Kennedy gave adequate notice to the Chairman that he would not be present at the March 1, 2023 meeting. He participated by remote participation since he was out of state and not able to be present. Haskell Kennedy, stated the following at the beginning of the meeting: his full name, that he was alone, and would remain alone for the entire meeting.

Due to remote participation, all votes taken will be by Roll Call.

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the open session and executive session minutes of the meeting held on February 15, 2023, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #2 - COLA
Motion made by Moynihan to grant a 3% cost of living increase on the COLA base effective July 1, 2023 for eligible retirees and survivors, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Accidental Disability-Michael Knowlton-Springfield Housing Authority
Motion made by Schmaelzle to table Mr. Knowlton’s matter to a future Board meeting, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Thomas Gentile, Park Foreman, Parks Department with 15 years and 7 months as of April 7, 2023; Darlene Sapouckey, CSR II, Water and Sewer Department with 32 years and 11 months as of April 29, 2023; Richard Ward, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years as of February 28, 2023, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the six (6) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #8 Refunds in the amount of $179,917.79, Warrant #9 Expenses in the amount of $322,387.81, Warrant #10 Refunds in the amount of $1,849.23, Warrant #11 Transfers in the amount of $574,037.58, Warrant #12 Refunds in the amount of $7,161.13, Warrant #13 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,346,684.10 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,000,000.00, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Burns 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 Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #8-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the fifteen (15) 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 #9-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar updated the Board on the MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A–Excess Earnings and Terminations and stated a hearing has been scheduled for Frank Arduino for April 5, 2023 at 4:00 P.M. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that we received the Vendor Disclosure Statement from Boston Millennia Partners. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that she is continuing to work with PBI Death Index Services regarding receiving death notifications more timely. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that the additional 2% retro cost-of-living increase will be paid to our retirees and survivors at the end of March.

Agenda Item #10-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, Matos, and Smith. Attorney Vivenzio will continue to update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #11-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #12-New Business
None

Reports and Notices
Boston Millennia Quarterly Report, PRIT Fund Update-January, Budget Balances as of February, Monthly Transfers as of February, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow

Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 5:25 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the 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 Kennedy, Appointed Member

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Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member