November 3, 2021, 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, November 2, 2021, 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 NOVEMBER 3, 2021 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Patrick Burns, Haskell Kennedy, Karl J. Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk

Remote: Brian Wanat, Attorney Joseph Donnellan

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 meeting held on October 6, 2021, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Brian Wanat-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Pauline Abert, Specialist, School Department with 23 years and 11 months as of 12/1/21; Madeline Cofield, Senior Center Coordinator, Elder Affairs with 10 years as of 10/2/21; William Hogan Jr., Working Foreman, Police Department with 40 years and 1 month as of 1/5/22; Dianne Morisi, Health Assistant LPN, School Department with 32 years as of 11/6/21; Garrett Williams, Motor Equipment Operator, DPW with 28 years 1 month as of 11/16/21; Luz Zayas, Paraprofessional, School Department with 25 years and 10 months as of 12/28/21, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Warrants
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #60 Refunds in the amount of $145,887.06, Warrant #61 Expenses in the amount of $54,836.29, Warrant #62 Refunds in the amount of $42,235.56, Warrant #63 Transfers in the amount of $61,062.27, Warrant #64 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,152,982.07, and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,600,000.00, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the twenty four (24) 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. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Nimako Agyapong, Solicitor, Law Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2019; Michael D. Smith, Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2019, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the request of survivor benefits to the beneficiary of John Francis of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Benefits under Section 9
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the request for survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Robert Fyhr of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Kennedy to approve the election of 12(2)(d) benefits from the beneficiary of Clifford Jorgensen of the Springfield Housing Authority-Deceased, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #10-Meeting dates for Calendar Year 2022
Motion made by Burns to accept the scheduled Meeting dates for Calendar Year 2022, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar reviewed the status of MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A-Excess Earnings / Terminations. She also informed the Board that the PERAC approvals for disability benefits were received for Brett Staples-Police Department, Jonathan Turner-Police Department, Mark Jones-Police Department, and Shawn Quinn-Fire Department. Ms. Baltazar also recommended adding a new position of Financial Analyst to the office staff. This position was discussed and would be posted on the Springfield Retirement System website, PERAC website and the MMA website. The Board agreed to add the position of Financial Analyst and to give the appointing authority of this position to the Executive Director. The salary is to commensurate depending on knowledge and experience. Ms. Baltazar also presented criteria for bonuses to be considered and paid to the staff. After the Board reviewed the criteria and bonus amounts, a motion was made by Schmaelzle to accept the bonuses as recommended, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar informed the Board that an invoice was received on an overpayment of COLA Reimbursement that the Retirement System received from the State, and that this invoice would be on the next warrant. Ms. Baltazar stated that Memo #29-2021 was received from PERAC stating that effective July 1, 2021, the hours a retiree may work in the public sector per calendar year has been increased from 960 hours to 1200 hours. Executive Director Baltazar also stated that we have retirees who have not returned their Benefit Verification Forms. These Retirees were sent reminders and phone calls were made. Letters will be mailed notifying them that their November benefits will be held until we receive the required Benefit Verification Forms. Director Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIM year to date performance.

Agenda Item #12-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that he has a few cases pending and will update the Board accordingly.

Agenda Item #13-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #14-New Business
None

F. Y. I. PERAC Memos, #27- Appropriation Data Due October 31, 2021, #28- Buying Back Elected Official Service Time, #29- Expansion of Post-Retirement Work in the Public Sector, #30- Investment Fraud Alert, PERAC Pension News, September PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of September, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of August, Budget Balances as of October, Monthly Transfers for October, Recent Retiree Deaths, Monthly Cash Flow

The Board reserves the right to consider items on the agenda out of order. In addition, the Board may enter into Executive Session during the meeting if requested by the individual or as deemed necessary by the Board or its Legal Counsel. Items listed for discussion in Executive Session may be conducted in open session in addition to or in lieu of discussion in Executive Session.

The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director.

Motion made by Moynihan to adjourn at 6:05 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

___________________________________________
Thomas M. Scanlon, Chairman

___________________________________________
Robert P. Moynihan, Elected Member

___________________________________________
Haskell Kennedy, Appointed Member

___________________________________________
Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

___________________________________________
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member