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, August 31, 2021, by emailing tdagostino@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 SEPTEMBER 1, 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, Scott Richard, Roberto Matos, Attorney Kevin Coyle, Marcus Earley, Attorney Charles Casartello, Greg Superneau, Billy Santiago
Remote: John Tyrell, Attorney Aleksandra Lopes, 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 August 4, 2021, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, abstain, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #2-Accidental Disability Application-Scott Richard-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Scott Richard, 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/Ordinary Disability Applications-Roberto Matos-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Burns to accept the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, no.
Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Marcus Earley-DPW-Solid Waste
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Marcus Earley, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Accidental Disability Application-John Tyrell-Park Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by John Tyrell, 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/Ordinary Disability Applications-Billy Santiago-Fire Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to deny the application for Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Commissioner Bernard Calvi, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Involuntary Accidental/Ordinary Disability/Superannuation Applications-Dennis Prior-Police Department
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability/Ordinary Disability benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Moynihan to table the Superannuation benefits submitted by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Superannuations
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the following Superannuations: Michael Colello, Banquet Manager, Parks Department with 13 years and 8 months as of 10/3/21; Hilda Martinez, Paraprofessional, School Department with 34 years and 6 months as of 8/10/2; Marian Rainville, Licensed Practical Nurse, School Department, with 25 years as of 9/7/21; Patricia Reilly, Senior Financial Analyst, Department of Public Works, with 32 years as of 10/15/21; Steven Sykes, ROTC Instructor, School Department with 21 years as of 9/11/21, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Warrants
Motion made by Kennedy to approve and reaffirm the following warrants: Warrant #44 Refunds in the amount of $123,683.82, Warrant #45 Retirement payroll in the amount of $4,562.26, Warrant #46 Refunds in the amount of $3,184.89, Warrant #47 Refunds in the amount of $21,000.00, Warrant #48 Refunds in the amount of $1,625.38, Warrant #49 Refunds in the amount of $22,682.17, Warrant #50 Refunds in the amount of $129,980.13, Warrant #51 Expenses in the amount of $60,224.29, Warrant #52 Retirement payroll in the amount of $7,144,782.30 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $6,200,000.00, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the seventeen (17) 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 #11-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to allow the redeposit of refunds to: Jonathan Gill, Coordinator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2013; Sheila Harris, Program Clerk, Springfield Housing Authority, for the refund from the State Board of Retirement in 2003; Jo'Von'Da Marshall, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018 and for the refund from the Holyoke Retirement Board in 2021; Erika Medina, Principal Clerk Typist, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2018, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle yes, Scanlon, yes.
Motion made by Moynihan to allow the makeup of contributions to: Jeffrey Curran, Skilled Laborer I, Water and Sewer Department, for 10 months of employment with the Water and Sewer Department, second by Burns. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Moynihan to allow survivor benefits to the beneficiary of Donald Kozaczka of the Fire Department-Deceased, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Burns, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar informed the Board that all the disability retirees were in compliance with the 91A reporting. Ms. Baltazar also informed the Board that we have received the PERAC Disability approvals for Christopher Benevento-School Department and Sean Sullivan-Police Department. Ms. Baltazar updated the Board on the PRIT year to date performance.
Agenda Item #14-Attorney’s Report
Attorney Vivenzio stated that he had two cases pending and will update the Board accordingly.
Agenda Item #15-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #16-New Business
None
F. Y. I. PERAC Memos #24-Important Amendment to G. L. 32, Section 100, July PRIT Fund Update, Trial Balance, Adjusting Entries, Receipts, Disbursements and General Ledger for the month of July, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of June, Monthly Transfers for August, Budget Balances as of August, Recent Retiree Deaths
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 5:52 P.M. second by Kennedy. 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