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, May 3, 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 MAY 4, 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, Greg Superneau, Reinaldo Bermudez, Jeffery Hyde, Roberto Matos, Attorney Kevin Coyle

Remote Participation: Roberto Rodriguez, Attorney Katherine Lamondia Wrinkle, Attorney Joseph Donnellan

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

Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on April 6, 2022, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Accidental Disability Application-Roberto Rodriguez-Department of Public Works
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the responses of the medical panel, the evidence of the Accidental Disability application and approve the disability benefits for Roberto Rodriguez, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Reinaldo Bermudez-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon 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. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Application-Tiyra Johnson-Police Department
Motion made by Schmaelzle to table Ms. Johnson’s matter to the June 1, 2022 Board meeting, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability Application-Jeffery Hyde-Fire Department

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 the member’s physical condition as in the application for Accidental/Ordinary Disability benefits.

Motion made in executive session by Schmaelzle 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 in executive session by Scanlon to deny the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Roberto Matos-Police Department
Motion made by Scanlon to have Attorney ViVenzio prepare a letter to PERAC after receiving further information from Roberto Matos, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #7 -Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to approve following Superannuations: Victor Guzman, Firefighter, Fire Department with 32 years as of April 29, 2022; Nancy Hand, Paraprofessional, School Department with 26 years and 5 months as of June 22, 2022; Esperanza Hardy, Paraprofessional, School Department with 17 years and 1 month as of June 30, 2022; Pamela Labrecque, Paraprofessional, School Department with 13 years and 9 months as of June 30, 2022; Kathleen Mellis, Crossing Guard, School Department with 19 years and 11 months as of April 28, 2022; James O’Brien, Office Manager, Retirement System with 34 years and 9 months as of April 17, 2022; Carmen Rivera, Housing Coordinator, Comm. Development with 36 years and 1 month as of April 30, 2022; Irene Vershon, Paraprofessional, School Department with 25 years and 2 months as of July 1, 2022; Delphine Williams, Principle Clerk, Library Department with 36 years and 9 months as of April 30, 2022, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #19 Refunds in the amount of $48,132.32, Warrant #20 Refunds in the amount of $200,150.28, Warrant #21 Expenses in the amount of $6,187.62, Warrant #22 Transfers in the amount of $218,882.95, Warrant #23 Expenses in the amount of $186,811.03, Warrant #24 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,196,198.22 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,050,000.00, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #9 -Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the twenty-nine (29) 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. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the redeposit of refunds to: Rodrigo Bustillo, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021; Ricardo J. Lawrence, Coordinator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2016; Vanessa Lima, Senior Budget Analyst, CAFO Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021; Alethea R. Mallett, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2012; Nathacha M. Quinones, Junior Custodian, Facilities Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021; Gynelle M. Santiago Ortiz, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021; Johnnae J. Vernon, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Regulation Requiring Written Notice to the Board on Offset Claims
Attorney ViVenzio presented a policy in draft form to be adopted by the Retirement Board. This policy would require written notice to the Board on Offset Claims. Motion made by Scanlon to approve a regulation requiring written notice to the Board on Offset Claims and to send to PERAC for their approval, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar received a request from the City of Springfield Treasurer requesting that Cynthia Moran, a former employee of his office and currently an employee of the Springfield Retirement Office, be available to work on Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:00 pm in his office to train her replacement. The Retirement Office would pay this employee and then be reimbursed by the Treasurer’s Office. Motion was made by Scanlon to compensate Ms. Moran and have the Treasurer’s Office reimburse the Retirement Office, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes. Executive Director Baltazar also gave an update on the PRIM performance.

Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that he has a few cases pending and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #14-Old Business
Member Burns gave the Board a further update on the status of the Pension Obligation Bonds.

Agenda Item #15-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #11-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training - 2nd Quarter 2022, March PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of March, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of February, Budget Balances as of April, Monthly Transfers for April, 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 6:09 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