March 2, 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, March 1, 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 MARCH 2, 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, Jose Marquez, Philip Washington, Attorney Daniel Blakesly, Michael Cross, Attorney Thomas Downey, Robert Mulcahey, Roberto Matos, Attorney Kevin Coyle

Remote Participation: Aaron Hyte, Attorney Joseph Donnellan, Jonathan Carignan, Linda Bournival

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 2, 2022, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2 - COLA
Motion made by Scanlon to grant a 3% cost of living increase on the COLA base effective July 1, 2022 for eligible retirees and survivors, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to further research the cost of increasing the COLA base from $13,000.00 to $14,000.00, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability/Ordinary Disability Application-Aaron Hyte-Fire Department
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, 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 application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, 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 Kennedy to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle.
Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability-Philip Washington-School Department
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Philip Washington, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Accidental Disability-Michael Cross-School Department

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Schmaelzle and second by Kennedy to enter into Executive Session and then to return to open session. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Session to discuss the member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental Disability benefits.

Motion made in executive session by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Michael Cross, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, no.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Roberto Matos-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to affirm the original motion to grant Accidental Disability benefits to Roberto Matos after receiving additional documentation from Roberto Matos and Attorney Kevin Coyle, as well as the department regarding hours of employment and breaks for Police Officers, second by Kennedy. The additional information will be forwarded to PERAC. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the following Superannuations: Daniel Brunton, Police Officer, Police Department with 34 years and 10 months as of 3/10/22; Booker Lemons, Auto Refuse Driver, DPW with 30 years and 11 months as of 4/1/22; Maritza Martinez, Paraprofessional, School Department with 14 years and 2 months as of 2/12/22; James O’Connor III, Credit & Collection Manager, W&S Department with 21 years and 4 months as of 4/2/22; Richard Olsson, Building Inspector Building Department with 21 years and 7 months as of 2/19/22; Robert Patruno, Police Officer, Police Department with 31 years as of 3/4/22; Edward Pikula, City Solicitor, Law Department with 36 years and 1 month as of 3/12/22; Joel Reyes, Police Officer, Police Department with 33 years and 4 months as of 3/16/22; Marc Savage, District Fire Chief, Fire Department with 31 years and 8 months as of 4/29/22, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #7 Refunds in the amount of $95,581.25, Warrant #8 Expenses in the amount of $1,286,148.21, Warrant #9 Expenses in the amount of $101,461.51, Warrant #10 Transfers in the amount of $30,646.76, Warrant #11 Refunds in the amount of $22,670.74, Warrant #12 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,154,562.27 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,000,000.00, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Burns to consider the twelve (12) 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 Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Anthony Amato, Sr. of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar updated the Board on the outstanding Benefit Verification Forms and updated the Board on a PERAC webinar on cybersecurity information. The Board would like Ms. Baltazar to ask the Pension Technology Group (PTG) and the City of Springfield IT Department to provide information and review the internal cybersecurity controls that are currently in place. Ms. Baltazar gave an update on the PRIM performance and also informed the Board that the MACRS Conference will be held from June 12, 2022 through June 15, 2022 if anyone is able to attend. The Executive Director asked to hire a qualified individual for the position of Member Services Representative/Disability Coordinator. The Board agreed to hire a Member Services Representative/Disability Coordinator 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 #13-Attorney’s Report
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Scanlon and second by Kennedy to enter into Executive Session and then to return to open session. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Session to discuss possible litigation cases.

Agenda Item #14-Pension Obligation Bonds Update
Member Burns gave an update on the potential issuance of Pension Obligation Bonds. Burns stated that once the study was completed regarding the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability of the Springfield Retirement System was completed by KMS Actuaries, LLC, that the information would be presented to the Board and that the Board would vote pursuant to Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2002. Burns will keep the Board updated.

Agenda Item #15-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #16-New Business
None

F. Y. I. January PRIT Fund Update, Boston Millennia Quarterly Reports, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of December, Budget Balances as of February, Monthly Transfers for February, 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 Scanlon to adjourn at 6:49 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 Member