MINUTES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
70 TAPLEY STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104
HELD ON OCTOBER 7, 2026 AT 4:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Moynihan, Thomas Scanlon, Haskell Kennedy, Patrick Burns, Karl Schmaelzle, Attorney Alfredo ViVenzio, Executive Director, Susana Baltazar, Teresa D’Agostino, Recording Clerk, Cathy Buono, Attorney Steven Scibelli, Jospeh Talmont, Renata Talmont, Fire Commissioner Miguel Rivera, Attorney John Connor-Domenic Pellegrino, Christopher Geraghty, Rebecca Gamsby from CBIZ and Laura Strickland from PRIM participated remotely.
Agenda Item #1-Audit-Springfield Retirement System
Rebecca Gamsby made a presentation on the Springfield Retirement System audit report for the year ending December 31, 2025. She reviewed the audit process, the information provided and examined by CBIZ, and the responsibilities of CBIZ when performing the audit. Rebecca stated 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). This information was provided to the member units, the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, the Springfield Housing Authority and the City of Springfield. The Board thanked Rebecca Gamsby for her presentation.
Agenda Item #2-PRIM
Laura Strickland from PRIM made a presentation of PRIM’s firm, asset allocation, and investment performance. She reviewed market performance, the economy, as well as the PRIT Fund performance since inception, and the year-to-date performance. Laura provided the Board with a Performance Review Information booklet dated October 7, 2026. The Board thanked Laura Strickland for her presentation.
Agenda Item #3-Minutes
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the open and executive session minutes of the meeting held on September 2, 2026, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #4-Involuntary Application for Disability Benefits-Joseph Talmont-Fire Department
Medical panel results were reviewed and discussed. Information was provided by Attorney John Connor requesting a clarification on the results of the medical panel. After review and consideration, a motion was made by Scanlon to approve submitting the clarification request to PERAC, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #5-Superannuation Applications
Motion made by Scanlon to approve the acceptance of the following Superannuation Applications: John Beglane, Coordinator, School Department with 18 years as of September 26, 2026; Mary Cadieux, Sped Para Professional, School Department with 30 years and 7 months as of October 3, 2026; Darlene Dodds, Classroom Paraprofessional, School Department with 30 years and 1 month as of October 24, 2026; Richard Heywood, Junior Custodian, School Department with 16 years and 10 months as of October 3, 2026; William Mahoney, Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations, Human Resources Department with 23 years and 11 months as of October 1, 2026; Eric Morrow, Sped Para Educator, School Department with 31 years and 10 months as
of September 18, 2026, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #6-Superannuation Calculations
Motion made by Burns to approve the five (5) retirement allowance calculations as presented to the Board according to statute, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #7-Redeposit of Refunds and Makeup of Contributions
Motion made by Scanlon to accept the redeposit of the refunds to: Niza Burgos, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Chefon Campbell, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2026; Venessa Closser, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2024; Aimee Dupuis, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2011; Ismael Lopez-Febres Coordinator, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2026; Linda Maldonado, Student Assigned Service Center Specialist and Coordinator, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2025; Crystal Rivera, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2026; Emanuel Santiago, Animal Welfare Specialist, TJO Animal Control, for the refund from Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Andrea Smith, Paraprofessional, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2025; Gregory Vatrano, Police Officer, Police Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2023; Chandra Williams, Paraprofessional in Training, School Department, for the refund from the Springfield Retirement System in 2026, second by Schmaelzle. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #8-Warrants
Motion made by Burns to approve and reaffirm the approval of the following warrants: Warrant #65 Expenses in the amount of $2,538.06, Warrant #66 Expenses in the amount of $1,443.99, Warrant #67 Refunds in the amount of $142,319.20, Warrant #68 Transfers in the amount of $316,053.51, Warrant #69 Refunds in the amount of $37,853.65, Warrant #70 Refunds in the amount of $2,154.47, Warrant #71 Refunds in the amount of $92,780.06, Warrant #72 Refunds in the amount of $21,497.19, Warrant #73 Expenses in the amount of $89,416.01, Warrant #74 Retirement payroll in the amount of $8,641,119.43 and redemption from the PRIT fund in the amount of $7,000,000.00, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #9-Refunds/Transfers to Other Systems
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the thirty-three (33) 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 Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #10-New Members
Motion made by Schmaelzle to accept the one hundred and ninety-five (195) New Members for membership due to their employment within the member units of the Springfield Retirement System as presented to the Board, second by Scanlon. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #11-Monthly Financial Reports
Motion made by Burns to accept the monthly financial reports for the month of August as presented to the Board, second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
Agenda Item #12-Director’s Report
Ms. Baltazar presented the 2027 Administrative Budget. After review, a motion was made by Burns to approve and adopt the calendar year 2027 budget as proposed by the Executive Director in the amount of $5,622,130.45. This amount includes a 1% cost of living increase by the Board, second by Scanlon. Moynihan, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Scanlon, yes. Ms. Baltazar let the Board know that the next MACRS Conference will be held from December 1, 2026 through December 3, 2026 in Quincy, MA for those who can attend.
Agenda Item #13-Attorney’s Report
Attorney ViVenzio updated the Board on the pending cases of Harold Goodman and Lori Lefebvre.
Agenda Item #14-Old Business
None
Agenda Item #15-New Business
None
Reports and Notices
PERAC Memos, #24-Tobacco Company List, #25-Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 4th Quarter, 2026, PERAC Valuation Report as of 1-1-26, 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 Scanlon to adjourn at 5:30 P.M., second by Kennedy. Scanlon, yes, Kennedy, yes, Schmaelzle, yes, Burns, yes, Moynihan, yes.
The correspondence and reports were received and reviewed by the Board Members and the Executive Director and will be placed on file.
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Robert P. Moynihan, Chairman
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Thomas M. Scanlon, Elected Member
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Haskell O. Kennedy, Appointed Member
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Patrick S. Burns, Ex-Officio
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Karl J. Schmaelzle, 5th Member