May 3, 2023, Meeting Minutes

MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MAY 3, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Edward Pikula, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Misael Rodriguez, Joseph Gentile.

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meetings held on April 5, 2023, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Timothy Shink-Police 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 Timothy Shink, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability-Misael Rodriguez-Police 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 Misael Rodriguez, second by Schmaelzle. 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: William Cochrane, Deputy Chief, Police Department with 40 years and 10 months as of April 29, 2023; Vincent Desantis III, Deputy Director, Department of Public Works with 37 years and 5 months as of May 19, 2023; Robert Duval, Computer Technician, School Department with 27 years and 4 months as of June 1, 2023; Barbara Greene, Paraprofessional, School Department with 26 years and 5 months as of June 23, 2023; Diane Henry, Specialist, School Department with 23 years and 8 months as of June 23, 2023; Martin Kelly, Special Projects Manager, IT Department with 17 years and 2 months as of July 1, 2023; Michael Kervick, Lieutenant, Police Department with 31 years and 7 months as of June 3, 2023; John Moran, Carpenter, Facilities Physical Plant with 25 years as of July 8, 2023; Alexander Tollis, Firefighter, Fire Department with 25 years and 11 months as of April 21, 2023, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the eleven (11) 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 #6-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #20 Refunds in the amount of $92,642.16, Warrant #21 Transfers in the amount of $271,248.29, Warrant #22 Refunds in the amount of $251,949.39, Warrant #23 Expenses in the amount of $1,208,264.17, Warrant #24 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,428,029.37 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,200,000.00, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the twenty-seven (27) 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 sixty-six (66) 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-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the monthly financial reports for the month of March as presented to the Board, second to Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that Frank Arduino will receive a recalculated amount for the 2021 excess earnings from PERAC for repayment. Ms. Baltazar also updated the board on Michael Sedergren’s repayment status of his 2021 excess earnings, and after review and consideration, a motion was made by Moynihan to allow Mr. Sedergren until October 2023 to repay his 2021 excess earnings according to the agreed upon payment schedule with no further extension, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar provided an update on the PRIM performance, and also informed the Board that the deadline for the Board Election is May 5, 2023 at 12:00 pm.

Agenda Item #11-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Pikula let the Board know that the DALA and CRAB cases are still pending.

Agenda Item #12-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #13-New Business
None

Reports and Notices
PERAC MEMOS #12 Forfeiture of Retirement Allowance for Dereliction of Duty by Members, March PRIT Fund Update, Budget Balances as of April, Monthly Transfers as of April, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow

Motion made by Schmaelzle to adjourn at 5:35 P.M. second by Moynihan. 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

Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member