MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON MAY 6, 2026 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk
Agenda Item #1-Minutes
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the open and executive session minutes of the meeting held on April 1, 2026, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the acceptance of the following Superannuation Applications: Debora Bys, Para Educator, School Department with 25 years and 7 months as of June 24, 2026; Joseph Desmond, Wire Inspector, Building Department with 18 years and 3 months as of July 6, 2026; Maria Gonzalez-Rosa, Para Educator, School Department with 41 years and 1 month as of June 24, 2026; Robert Kalin, Police Officer, Police Department with 32 years and 10 months as of May 30, 2026; Daniel Keenan, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department with 32 years as of May 15, 2026; Wanda LeValle, Sped Paraprofessional, School Department with 10 years and 1 month as of June 26, 2026; Thomas Maloney, Firefighter, Fire Department with 28 years and 5 months as of April 4, 2026; Franklyn McNeil, Police Officer, Police Department with 30 years and 11 months as of May 26, 2026; Cris Murphy, Payroll Director, City/School Departments with 34 years and 10 months as of July 6, 2026; Paul Orzechowski, Instrumentation Tech, Water & Sewer with 13 years and 10 months as of July 1, 2026; Robert Spaulding, Foreman, Streets and Engineering with 35 years and 5 months as of April 25, 2026, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #3-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the seven (7) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the redeposit of refunds to: Francis Addai, Junior Custodian, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2025; Ayanna Crawford, School Committee, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2004; Alesia Days, Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department, for the refunds from the State Retirement Board in 1998 and 2003; Justin Hurst, Councilor, City Council, for the refunds from the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System in 2011 and the Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Tamika Kae Jones, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Westfield Retirement System in 2024; Dan’Te Pagan, Security Guard, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2025; Erica Perez, Toll Collector, Park Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2022; Luis Pumarejo, Speech Language Assistant, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2006; Marianne Robles Valle, SASCE Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Lyssel Marie Rodriguez Velazquez, Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, for the refund from the Holyoke Retirement Board in 2025; Jessica Rydzak, Classroom Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Holyoke Retirement Board in 2023; Nezareth Sanchez Justiniano, Police Academy Officer, Police Department, for the refund from the State Retirement Board in 2023; Michelle Marie Torres, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Carletta Watkins, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the State Retirement Board in 2010; Walter Woodgett, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System in 2004, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #26 Refunds in the amount of $96,345.19, Warrant #27 Expenses in the amount of $1,811.60, Warrant #28 Refunds in the amount of $259,384.34, Warrant #29 Refunds in the amount of $213,604.92, Warrant #30 Refunds in the amount of $23,394.62, Warrant #31Transfers in the amount of $44,900.49, Warrant #32 Refunds in the amount of $1,401.82, Warrant #33 Expenses in the amount of $5,000.00, Warrant #34 Refunds in the amount of $53,701.64, Warrant #35 Expenses in the amount of $10,000.00, Warrant #36 Refunds in the amount of $220.81, Warrant #37 Expenses in the amount of $111,241.25 Warrant #38 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,383,878.00 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,200,000.00, Warrant #39 Expenses in the amount of $1,797.91, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Burns to accept the thirty-seven (37) 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 Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #7-New Members
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the thirty-four (34) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to accept the monthly financial reports for the months of January, February, and March as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Director’s Report
Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, informed the Board that the annual lease agreement was received for our office space until June 30, 2027 at 70 Tapley Street, with the City of Springfield. A motion was made by Scanlon to accept the Lease agreement as presented, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, Moynihan, yes. She also reminded the Board of the upcoming NCPERS and MACRS Conferences. She also informed the Board that the annual appropriations from our member units are scheduled to be received on or before July 1, 2026. The monies will be invested in PRIM as in previous years. Ms. Baltazar also gave an update on the year-to-date PRIM performance. She also reviewed the primary job responsibilities of the employees with the Board, and stated that additional updates will be made based on the needs of the office. Due to the resignation of our Financial Analyst and additional duties given to the Deputy Director, an increase in salary will be given to the Deputy Director effective May 11, 2026. Ms. Baltazar also let the Board know that CBIZ is currently doing the audit of our system as of December 31, 2025.
Agenda Item #10-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, and Lefebvre.
Agenda Item #11-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #12-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos 15-Proposed Amendment to the Standard Rules for Disclosure of Information Regulations 840 CMR 6.00, PRIT Fund Update – March, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the months of January, February, and March, Budget Balances as of April, Monthly Transfers as of April, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Scanlon to adjourn at 5:45 P.M., second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, 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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Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman
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Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member
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Haskell O. Kennedy, Appointed Member
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Patrick S. Burns, Ex-Officio
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member