MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON OCTOBER 4, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M.

Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo Vivenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Neftali Rivera, Attorney John Connor, Brent Brenes, Jennifer Brenes, Anthony Lawrence, Aaron Butler, Attorney Leigh Panettiere, Angel Reyes, Roberto Matos.

Remote Participation: David Santiago/Sick

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 September 6, 2023, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Neftali Rivera-Fire Department
Attorney Vivenzio asked Mr. Rivera if he had any prior issues until his on the job injury. Mr. Rivera stated he did not have any prior incidents. Motion was then made by Moynihan to accept the application for Involuntary Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #3-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application–Brent Brenes–Fire Department
Attorney Vivenzio asked Mr. Brenes if any other treatment was recommended for his on the job injury and after his response, a motion was made by Schmaelzle to accept the responses of the majority of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #4-Ordinary/Accidental Disability Application-Anthony Lawrence-Fire Department
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Moynihan to enter into Executive Session to discuss the member’s medical condition as in the application for Ordinary/Accidental Disability benefits of Anthony Lawrence, and then to return to open session, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Based on all the information received which includes the medical records, a motion was made in executive session by Moynihan to accept the application for Ordinary/Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Anthony Lawrence and request that PERAC convene a medical panel pending receipt of incident reports to include with the application, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #5-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-David Santiago-Police Department
Attorney Vivenzio asked Mr. Santiago if there was any third-party offset claim from his on the job injury with the Police Department. The required information will be sent to our office for review. Motion was then made by Kennedy to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application for David Santiago submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #6-Involuntary Accidental Disability Application-Kenneth Arzon-Police Department
The medical panel information was received with some date discrepancies. After review of the majority of the medical panel results and pending the clarification receipt of the dates in questions, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the responses of the medical panel for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Ordinary/Accidental and Voluntary Accidental Disability Applications-Aaron Butler-Police Department
Applications were received for Aaron Butler who works at the Springfield Police Department. After review of the applications, and the fact that Aaron Butler has been receiving 111F benefits, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the Involuntary Accidental Disability application for Aaron Butler submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. A motion was also made by Moynihan to accept the Voluntary Accidental Disability application submitted by Aaron Butler and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Based on all the supporting evidence for Accidental Disability benefits and that Aaron Butler is receiving 111F benefits, a motion made by Moynihan to deny the Involuntary Ordinary Disability submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #8-Accidental Disability Application-Roberto Matos-Police Department
An application has been filed for Accidental Disability benefits by Roberto Matos of the Springfield Police Department. After review, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Roberto Matos and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #9-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuation Applications: Cleo Brown-Martin, Paraprofessional, School Department with 10 years and 8 months as of January 26, 2024; Pansy James, Human Resources Specialist, School Department with 23 years and 11 months as of October 3, 2023; Joseph Minardi, Plumbing Gasfitting Inspector, Building Department with 11 years and 1 month
as of October 5, 2023; Diane Houle, Adult & Youth Info Service Manager, Library Department with 38 years and 2 months as of November 4, 2023; Linda Smith, Secretary, Solidwaste with 40 years as of October 21, 2023; Cristina Torres, Bilingual Para Educator, School Department with 30 years as of September 25, 2023, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #10-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. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #11-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #53 Refunds in the amount of $137,245.86, Warrant #54 Transfers in the amount of $114,233.41, Warrant #55 Expenses in the amount of $66,366.86, Warrant #56 Refunds in the amount of $83,392.67, Warrant #57 Refunds in the amount of $1,938.71, Warrant #58 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,616,249.85 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $5,600,000.00, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #12-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the seventeen (17) 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 #13-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the thirty-nine (39) 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. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #14-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to approve the monthly trial balance, cash receipts, cash disbursements, journal entries and general ledger reports for the month of August as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #15-Benefits under Section 9
After review of the information provided, a motion was made by Moynihan to approve the survivor benefits to the beneficiary of John J. Abair of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

Agenda Item #16-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar gave an update on the outstanding compliance requests for 91A terminations.
Ms. Baltazar also presented the 2024 Administrative Budget. After review, a motion was made by Burns to approve and adopt the calendar year 2024 budget as proposed by the Executive Director in the amount of $4,171,843.87, which includes a 1% yearly increase by the Board, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIT performance.

Agenda Item #17-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio updated the Board on pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, Matos and Smith.

Agenda Item #18-Old Business
None

Agenda Item #19-New Business
None

Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos, #19 Tobacco Company List, #20 Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 4th Quarter 2023, PERAC Comparative Analysis, August PRIT Fund Update, Budget Balances as of September, Monthly Transfers as of September, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow.

Motion made by Burns to adjourn at 6:15 P.M. second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.

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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

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Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member

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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member