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03/07/1990 L ~ i" .~,.~(.......,:.~,l ~\~':' .;:......:~..."l';:.";... ~.i...'>'\..... ...~: ....~>~'... . I I Proceedings of the Pension Advisory Committee Meeting of Murch 7, 1990. Page 1 Present: John Nicholson, Chairman Tom Pudelski, Member Olenn Perry, Member J H. Michael Laursen, Personnel Director Deborah Lally, Personnel Department Nancy Degner, City Nurse Cindy CHman, Personnel Records Specialist Dan Deignan, Assistant Director of Administrative ServiceslFinance Henry Kohout, Police Officer , Cary Singletary, Attorney for Officer Kohout Edward Voiland. former Building & Maintenance Superintendent William Harvey. former Firefighter Robert Gundel. Fleet Maintenance '.,/" " \... The meeting was called to order at 9:32 A.M. Glenn Perry moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 21, 1990. The motion was duly seconded by Tom Pudelski and carried unanimously. Secretary Laursen advised the Committee he has been working on the procedures and medical standards and in two to four weeks will have something to submit to the Walk-In Clinic. According to the City's contract with the Clinic, the doctors there wUl help the City establish standards. A letter was sent to Michael Dnndanenu, Police Communications Operator, Pollee Department, but no response has been received No reply was received from Jacqueline Sulek, former Assistant Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Division. No new Utilities information has been received from Deborah Department, in response to the letter sent to her. Patterson, Meter Reader I, The' Committee considered the request of Edward Volland, Building & Maintenance Superintendent, Building & Maintenance DIvision, for a job-connected disability pension. A letter was received from,,'Dr. Williamson who performed an independent medical examination (IME) on Mr. Voiland. Dr. Williamson could not make a final determination since the Pension Advisory Committee would not grant permission for a stress test. A lengthy discussion ensued. At the conclusion, it was the consensus of the Committee that there was not enough documentation to substantiate a job-connected disability pension. Tom Pudelski moved that Edward Voiland be granted a non-job-connected disability pension effective on a date to be determined based on Mr. Volland's disability that occurred or resulted '(from off-the-job circumstances which is described as hypertension (high blood pressure), said disability making him permanently unable to perform his job. and documented by medical statements of Dr. Michael D. Williamson, dated March 5, 1990, and Dr. Moshe Kedan, d~ted February 12. 1990. The motion was duly seconded by Glenn Perry and carried unanimously. Proceedings of the Pension Advisory Committee Meeting of March 7. ] 990. Page 2 Mr. Volland asked whether the Trustees have ever reversed a decision made by the Committee. Ilc was advised that the Trustees did so In one instancc. but the employee went to court. The court ruled that the decisIon of the Committee was final. Howevcr. the. Trustees have remanded cases to the Committee for further consideration. Mr. Laursen will advise Mr. Voiland of the date this matter wllJ be heard by the Trustees. In regard to Robert Gundel, Fleet Maintenance, Mr. Laursen received a memo from Barbara Weston from the Finance Division which Slated that a check dated 1/21/82 was issued to Mr. Gundel in the amount of $171.47. This check was cashed and cleared the bank. A copy of the check is unavailable. Mr. Gundel thanked the Committee for checking into this maller and stated his only real concern was determining the correct pension participation date. The Committee again considered the request of Henry KOhout, Pollee Officer, Pollee De par t men t t for a job-connected disability pension. Cary Singletary, attorney for Officer Kohout, addressed the Committee. Letters were submitted from Dr. Paul Wallacc and Dr. Harry Steinman which stated that Officer Kohout injured his knee in the line of duty and is permanently disabled from performing his duties as a Police Officer. Officer Kohout gave the Committee members an update on his condition. Since the letters from the doctors were written, he has been back to see Dr. Steinman. He is still losing mobility in his knees and the muscle, strength is dcpreciating. He will require surgery to alleviate the pain but it will not improve his condition. Tom Pudelski moved that Henry Kohout be granted a job-connected disability pension effective on a date to be determined based on Officcr Kohout's disability that resulted from on-the-job circumstances which is described as an injury to his left knee, said disability making him permanently unable to perform his job and documented by medical statements of Dr. Paul F. Wallace, datcd January 9, 1990, and Dr. Harry Steinman, dated January 3, 1990. The motion was duly seconded by Glenn Perry. Discussion ensued concerning the effective date of Officer Kohout's pension. At the conclusion, Glenn Perry amended the motion to indicate the pension would be effective upon approval by the Trustees. The motion was carried unanimously. Dan Deignan, Assistant Director of Administrative Services/Finance Director, appeared before the Committee at its request to report on what factors impacted this year's shortfall in the Pension Plan. He advised the Committee that the decision to readmit Steve Zimmerman to the Pension Plan would have had no impact on this shortfall. The factors that did effect it are 1) the increase in the minimum pension from $75.00 to $300.00 ($42,000.00) and 2) the third year of a three-year phase in using a new mortality table ($233,000.00). Mr. Deignan stated it was 100 difficult to determine all the reasons for the shortfall. Mr. 'Nicholson questioned Mr. Deignan as to how Steve Zimmerman's admittance differs from that of Lois Maroon who had requested readmittance back in 1987. Mr. Nicholson refcrred to a memo from Mr. Deignan to the Committee illustrating the financial impact Lois Maroonts return would have on the Pension Plan. Mr. Deignan Slated the grcatest impact on the Pension Plan is disability pensions. Mr. Deignan suggested it may be appropriate to show the financial impact for each pension granted since this would be an invaluable piece of information for the Committee to have when making determinations. 1\ .' " , ; I I Proceedings of the Pension Advisory Committee Meeting of March 7. 1990. Page 3 Mr. Nicholson advised the Committee he had attended the last meeting of the Trustees and they approved Alexis Simpkin. At the meeting Mr. Nicholson also spoke to the Trustees about Mr. Scott and Mr. Teunis and the letter they were sent conccrning their cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The Trustees felt it was a good idco to inform the employees by way letter. William Harvey, former Firefighter who is retired on disability pension. addressed the Committee concerning his request to take a job as a dispatcher for Medic One. Mr. Harvey hod asked the Committee previously if he would be allowed to do such work and was advised by letter " that this would be considered work similar to his job as a Firefighter. A lengthy discussion ensued concerning what work Mr. Harvey could and could not do. Mr. Nicholson advised Mr. Harvey that the Board of Trustees makes the final decision in this matter. At the conclusion of the discussion. Glenn Perry moved that this matter be sent to the Trustees without a recommendation for their decision. The motion was duly seconded by Tom Pudelski and carried unanimously. \ I I ~ ? ~ i I I The Committee considered the request of Robert Kennedy, Police CaptaIn, Police Department. for a regular pension based on years of service. Tom Pudelski moved that Roben Kennedy be granted a regular pension based on his years of service. The motion was duly seconded by Glenn Perry and carried unanimously. The Committee members expressed some concern that there may be pensioners who currently arc employed in positions which are similar to the one from which they retired. It was suggested that it may be necessary to have some of these people re-evaluated. Mr. Laursen advised the Committee that the Payroll Division sends out forms to pensioners on an annual basis. and he thinks these forms indicate where the individual is employed. He suggested the Committee members may wish to review these forms. The Committee members agreed and asked Mr. Laursen to obtain from Payroll copies of the forms. Mr. Nicholson will not be available for the meeting of March 21. 1990, or April 4, 1990. Mr. Pudelski will not be available on March 21, 1990. This meeting will be canceled. The Committee considered the request of John Greiner, Survey Party Chief, Public Works/Engineering. for a job~connected disability pension. Letters were received from Dr. Logue and Dr. Harris. Nancy Degner. City Nurse. advised the Committee she did not think Mr. Greiner has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). The Committee asked her to write to the treating physician to find out if Mr. Greiner has and the percent of his disability. This will be considered for the first time on April 18, 1990. Mr. Nicholson advised the Committee that he had spoken to several attorneys who advised him that the Committee on its own could write to the Attorney General to request legal opinions. He presented a letter he had drafted to Bob Butterworth, Attorney General. requesting an opinion as to whether or not the City Commission could serve as Trustees of the Pension Plan. He asked the other members to sign the letter. Tom Pudelski moved that the letter be sent to the Attorney General. The motion was duly seconded by Glenn Perry and carried unanimously. Copies will be sent to Mr. Laursen, the City Attorney. the City Manager. and the Trustees. ... '-;-r.~ 1'"",,- J..t. ,.:~ ~.~.,,.. c , ~. . ; f . '. "1 I.. ....'.... ;+,' .' '.' <l (- , }.' ,." , ~.'" .: Proceedings of, the Pension A~vlsory Commlltec Meetlng or March 7 t 1990. Page 4 t L Glenn Perry Tom, Pudelski moved . that' the' meeting and carried unanimous1 be The adjourned. The meeting adjourned motion at 10~53 was A.M. duly seconded by Respectfully a Advisory Committee , ,. ',\ .: I ; ~ . "":J ',::" , .", :-. .:/ ,.', ;. : ,,'. ~. , ~ ' ," . I ~ I ( , '. ~':,,:-~ , '~ . .~' ,~. '. ' , . \-,' " 'c', \, " , ',',f:" /.'- , '" :;;', ~ : >~'II': > " :: 'llc' c ,,' '1:, .' ':;',',:. ;" I, , / " r;:.: .'~', "I.'c'I'. ;'.,'.,. . .(T. '. :.',:','" . '5 ' ~.' ," ,I : ' ,\ ",l.';.\ ,:" ~'}. . " . " '," ',." 'c'o, ":" I.~.'".' . :;. " ....'. ." " '. ,\ ',' " " ,{ :\ ; ". , 'j ,', ;,:I'\ . ! ,\J i ,j :1 , , . ',1 q' >', '. :/ '.. . I, '.\ . ,:., '.' , ". .. I, .I.c,,' .. .',. ..' . ....:.,. ~ r' ,~..., ' , '..... , "." " , :, '., :': " .