The Springfield Retirement Board Meeting Scheduled for May 5, 2021 was held remotely as a Result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public can access the meeting remotely via GoToMeeting at
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MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MAY 5, 2021 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Philip Mantoni, Patrick Burns, Haskell Kennedy, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Sean Sullivan, Richard Allen

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 April 14, 2021, second by Mantoni. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Sean Sullivan-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: Melvyn Altman, City Solicitor-3rd Associate, Law Department with 36 years and 1 month as of 6/12/2021; Richard Allen, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, Assessors Department with 39 years and 3 months as of 4/21/21; George Blake, Student Engagement, School Department with 11 years and 7 months as of 5/1/2021; Joseph D’Ascoli, Director of Rental Assistance, Springfield Housing Authority with 23 years and 4 months as of May 1, 2021; Judith Dziobek, Deputy Director, Retirement System with 24 years and 10 months as of May 1, 2021; Charlene Gaudette, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department with 29 years as of 5/1/2021; Anne Lavernoich, Speech Language Assistant, School Department with 12 years and 7 months as of 6/18/2021; Stephanie Liebl, Law Department, Paralegal with 17 years and 1 month as of June 12, 2021; James Ollari, Foreman, Department of Public Works with 26 years and 11 months as of 5/1/2021; Richard Pohner, Firefighter, Fire Department with 32 years as of 5/2/2021; Maria Portes, Paraprofessional, School Department with 11 years and 9 months as of 4/16/2021; Maureen Shea, Data Entry Supervisor, Park Department with 44 years and 10 months as of 5/8/2021; Gail Stathis, Community Health Advocate, Health Department, with 22 years and 9 months as of 5/1/2021; John Taylor, Police Sergeant, Police Department, with 33 years and 7 months as of June 26, 2021, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Warrants
Motion made by Mantoni to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #20 Refund in the amount of $5,839.97, Warrant #21Refunds in the amount of $282,557.43, Warrant #22 Expenses in the amount of $75,118.07, Warrant #23 Expenses 3(8)(c) in the amount of $99,387.72, Warrant #24 Retiree payroll in the amount of $6,988,646.66, and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $0.00, Warrant #25 Transfers in the amount of $73,495.22, Warrant #26 Refunds in the amount of $72,175.82, second by Kennedy. 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 nineteen (19) 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 Mantoni. 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: Angel M Echegaray, Junior Custodian, Facilities Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020 and Chelsea Parmentier, Elections Assistant, Elections Department, for the refunds from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018 and 2020, 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 post the position of the Fifth Board Member of the Springfield Retirement board on the Springfield Retirement website and also on the PERAC website, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to nominate and re-appoint Phil Mantoni pending any other nominations, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, abstain, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Director’s Report
Thomas M. Scanlon, retired Springfield Police Officer, and Vladimir Caceres, Civil Engineer for the Springfield Department of Public Works, have taken out nomination papers for the upcoming Retirement Board Election. This election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Baltazar stated that the Ballots would be mailed on May 24, 2021, and the counting of the ballots would be on June 23, 2021. We thank Judy Dziobek, Deputy Director and Election Officer for the Springfield Retirement System, for all her years of service and wish her a happy retirement. Motion was made by Moynihan to designate Teresa D’Agostino as the next Election Officer, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Mantoni, yes, Scanlon, yes. Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that she received a letter from PERAC stating they have completed their review process for submitting retirement calculations for approval and stated that the Board will continue to be granted this waiver. The Executive Director submitted a job description to the Board to hire a Member Services Representative/Disability Coordinator. The Board agreed to add the position of 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. Regarding the COLA Base Increase, information was received from PERAC and reviewed. After discussion, it was decided to seek the opinions of City Council Members. Regarding House Bill 1794, An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers, we have received an update from PERAC, and will continue to monitor the status of this bill. Beginning with the June 2, 2021 Board meeting, the Board will begin having hybrid meetings (virtual and in person). Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that the PERAC disability approvals were received for Adam Rodriguez-Police Department, Daren Womack-School Department and Joseph Assad-Facilities. Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the PRIT year to date performance.

Agenda Item #9-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio also stated that he had several cases pending with DALA and would update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #10-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #11-New Business
Board Member Moynihan informed the Board that MACRS will be having a Virtual Spring Conference on June 7, 2021 and June 8, 2021.

F. Y. I. PERAC Memo #15-Implementation of Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFML), PERAC Pension News, 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 March, Monthly Transfers for April, Budget Balances as of April, 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 6:07 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 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