MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON OCTOBER 1, 2025 AT 4:00 P.M.
Present: Thomas Scanlon, Robert Moynihan, Haskell Kennedy, Karl Schmaelzle, Stephen Lonergan, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Patrick Burns, Cathy Buono, Jose Diaz, Kenneth Byers. Rebecca Gamsby from CBIZ and Laura Strickland from PRIM participated remotely.
Chairman Scanlon called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M
Agenda Item #1-Audit-Springfield Retirement System
Rebecca Gamsby provided an overview of the Springfield Retirement System audit report for the year ending December 31, 2024. She reviewed the information that was examined by CBIZ, went over the audit process, as well as the new requirements. After review, the information did not contain any significant changes and the pension liability was reviewed. She expressed that the financial statements comply with the financial reporting requirements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Information will be sent to the member units, the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, the Springfield Housing Authority and the City of Springfield, as required. This information is included in the audit report. The Board thanked Rebecca Gamsby for her presentation.
Agenda Item #2-PRIM
Laura Strickland from PRIM provided a presentation of PRIM’s investment performance. She reviewed year-to-date performance as well as the performance since inception. She spoke on PRIM’s asset allocation, and the different asset sectors, and the economy. Ms. Strickland provided the Board with a Performance Review Information booklet dated October 1, 2025. The Board thanked Ms. Strickland for her presentation.
Agenda Item #3-Minutes
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the minutes of the meeting held on September 10, 2025, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Accidental Disability Application-Kenneth Byers-Fire Department
After review of the application and supporting documentation, a motion was made by Moynihan to accept the application for Accidental Disability benefits submitted by Kenneth Byers, and request that PERAC convene a medical panel, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #5-MGL Chapter 32 Hearing on Retirement/Rights/Status/Benefits-Jose Diaz-Police Department
Attorney ViVenzio addressed the Board regarding Jose Diaz of the Police Department. He reviewed all the information that was mailed to Mr. Diaz. Based on the information presented to the Board, the Board made the following motions: Motion made by Kennedy that the Board finds the facts of the charge as presented to be true, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan no, Kennedy yes, Schmaelzle yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, no. Motion made by Kennedy to forfeit all rights of Mr. Diaz, effective October 1, 2025, second by Lonergan. Moynihan no, Kennedy yes, Schmaelzle yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, no. Motion made by Kennedy to forfeit all rights pursuant to Chapter 32, Section 15(4) and authorize a return of accumulated deductions with the rate of regular interest on the accumulated deductions to be zero, second by Lonergan. Moynihan yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Motion made by Lonergan that Mr. Diaz shall cease to be a member and any future membership shall require approval of the Springfield Retirement Board, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the following Superannuation Applications: Hector Ortiz, Jr Custodian, School Department with 19 years and 7 months as of October 1, 2025; Rosemary Perez, SPED Paraprofessional, School Department with 10 years and 1 month as of October 16, 2025; Lynnette Smith, SPED Paraprofessional, School Department with 16 years and 4 months as of October 9, 2025, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Moynihan to approve the four (4) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Warrants
Motion made by Moynihan to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #55 Refunds in the amount of $1,300.97, Warrant #56 Refunds in the amount of $234,009.52, Warrant #57 Refunds in the amount of $34,845.13, Warrant #58 Refunds in the amount of $67,461.00, Warrant #59 Transfers in the amount of $291,515.10, Warrant #60 Expenses in the amount of $983,980.27, Warrant #61 Refunds in the amount of $16,882.04, Warrant #62 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,249,564.79
and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,300,000.00, second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the twenty-one (21) 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 Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #10-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the redeposit of refunds and makeup of contributions to: Yaidelin Amaro Lebron, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Leah Hall, Classroom Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2020; Kethzie Torres Soto, Sped Para Educator, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Brian Elliott, Police Lieutenant, Police Department, for ten months of employment with the Park Department and Water Department, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #11-New Members
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the forty-five (45) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Lonergan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Benefits under Section 101
Motion made by Moynihan to allow survivor benefits to the beneficiary of James Nadle Jr. of Facilities Management Department-Deceased, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #13-Benefits under Section 12(2)(d)
Motion made by Schmaelzle to approve the 12(2)(d) benefits from the beneficiary of Alexia Chase-Walters of the School Department-Deceased, second by Moynihan. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #14-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Moynihan to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of August as presented to the Board, second by Schmaelzle. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
Agenda Item #15-Director’s Report
Executive Director Baltazar updated the Board that only four Benefit Verification Forms have not been received and are outstanding. These retirees/survivors are not currently receiving their retirement allowances. Ms. Baltazar presented the 2026 Administrative Budget. After review, a motion was made by Schmaelzle to approve and adopt the calendar year 2026 budget as proposed by the Executive Director in the amount of $5,089,770.07, which includes a 2% cost of living increase by the Board, second by Haskell. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar also updated the Board on investment performance of prior years.
Agenda Item #16-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases, which include the matters of Goodman, Lefebvre, and Cruz-Birriel.
Agenda Item #17-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #18-New Business
Situations have arisen regarding the receipt of required information by the retirement board from individual departments. This information should be received by the retirement board at the time of an employee’s hiring. The board members asked to put this matter on the next monthly board agenda.
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos #25-Tobacco Company List, PERAC Pension News, PRIT Fund Update – August, Treasurer’s Reconciliation for the month of August, Budget Balances as of September, Monthly Transfers as of September, Recent Retiree Deaths, List of Injury Reports, Monthly Cash Flow
Motion made by Lonergan to adjourn at 5:40 P.M. second by Kennedy. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Lonergan, yes, Scanlon, yes.
The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and Executive Director, and will be placed on file.
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Thomas M. Scanlon, Chairman
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Robert P. Moynihan, Elected Member
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Haskell O. Kennedy, Appointed Member
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Stephen J. Lonergan, Ex-Officio
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member