MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON OCTOBER 5, 2022 AT 5:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Roberto Matos, Attorney Kevin Coyle
Remote Participation: Executive Director, Susana Baltazar/sick, Michael Sedergren/out of town
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 September 7, 2022, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
.
Agenda Item #2-Involuntary Superannuation Application- Roberto Matos
Motion made by Schmaelzle to table the application for Superannuation Retirement benefits submitted by Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #3-MGL Chapter 32 Section 91A Hearing-Excess Earnings-Michael Sedergren-Police Department
A hearing was scheduled at today’s meeting to give Michael Sedergren an opportunity to be heard by the Springfield Retirement Board regarding his 2021 excess earnings. After review and discussion, a motion was made by Scanlon to allow three smaller monthly payments for the first three months but to still have balance paid timely according to Board policy, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Superannuations
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the following Superannuations with corrected title and service information on John Goonan: John Goonan, Senior Custodian, School Department with 10 years and 2 months as of January 7, 2023; Clifford Ellard Jr. Streets Engineering Foreman, Department of Public Works with 28 years and 6 months as of October 7, 2022; Constance Gumlaw, Paraprofessional, School Department with 10 years as of October 12, 2022; Monique Piotte, Athletic Specialist, School Department with 14 years and 8 months as of September 30, 2022; David Thompson, Foreman, Springfield Housing Authority with 36 years and 9 months as of September 24, 2022, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #50 Expenses in the amount of $3,599.40, Warrant #51 Refunds in the amount of $118,248.55, Warrant #52 Expenses in the amount of $55,212.50, Warrant #53 Transfers in the amount of $125,992.25, Warrant #54 Refunds in the amount of $151,725.02 Warrant #55 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,379,613.34 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,400,000.00, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Scanlon to consider the redeposit of refunds to: Shawna D. Brace, 311 Call Center Service Representative, 311 Call Center, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2022; Yvonne Charvis, Specialist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2011, John C. Deforest, Fire Dispatcher, Dispatch Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2015; Michelle Dostie, Program Specialist, Springfield Housing Authority, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018; Tatiana Flores, Site Coordinator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2019;
Kenneth D. Harris, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2014; Mitchell A. Saunders, Assistant Assessor, Assessors Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 1985; Alexandra Thomas, Speech Language Assistant, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2021, second by Burns. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the twenty-six (26) 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 #8-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar provided an update to the Board on any disability retirees who have outstanding excess earnings under MGL Chapter 32, Section 91A for 2021. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on the PRIT year to date performance and let the Board know that Michael Nelligan from Powers & Sullivan, as well as Francesco Daniele from PRIM were going to make presentations at the November 2, 2022 meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. and that member units of the system would be notified.
Agenda Item #9-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that he has pending cases and will update the Board accordingly.
Agenda Item #10-Old Business
Member Burns informed the board that the matters of increasing the COLA Base and Board Member Stipends should be on the agenda for the October 17, 2022 City Council meeting. Member Burns will continue to update the Board on these matters.
Agenda Item #11-New Business
None
F. Y. I.
PERAC Memos, #23/2022 Vacation Buybacks as Regular Compensation, #24/2022 Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-4th Quarter, 2022, #25/2022 Tobacco Company List, PERAC Pension News, PRIT Fund Update August, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of August, Budget Balances as of September, Monthly Transfers for September, 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 Schmaelzle to adjourn at 6:15 P.M. second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Moynihan, yes.
__________________________________________
Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman
__________________________________________
Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member
___________________________________________
Haskell Kennedy, Appointed Member
___________________________________________
Patrick S. Burns, Appointed Member
___________________________________________
Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member