11/29/1990
Proceedings of the Pension Advisory Committee Meeting of November 29. 1990.
Page I
Present:
John Nicholson, Chairman
Tom Pudelski. Member
Fred Starzinger. Member
Deborah Ford. Personnel Department
Cynthia Climan, Personnel Department
Nancy Degner. City Nurse
Jos'eph DeSantis. Police Sergeant
Louis Kwall, Esq.. Attorney for Sg!. DeSantis
Richard McCrea. Esq.. Attorney for 5g!. DeSantis
Glenda DeSantis
Mark Cot6
Joseph Pidala. Assistant Fire Chief
Terry Clements, District Chief
Miles Lance. Assistant City Attorney
Glenn Perry. Parks & Recreation
The special meeting was called to order at 1 :35 P.M.
No action was taken on the request of Deborah Patterson, Meter Reader I, Utilities
Finance Division, for a job-connected disability pension at the request of her attorney.
Tom Pudelski moved to table this matter until further action is taken by her attorney. The
motion was dulY' seconded by Fred Starzingcr and carried unanimously.
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With respect to the job-connected disability request of Joseph DeSantis, Police Sergeant,
,Police Department. after some discussion Mr. Nicholson advised the Committee that in light
of recent legal opinions and, with further review of the Pension Plan. the Committee could only
approve or disapprove a job~connected disability pension for him. Sgt. DeSantis would not be
eligible. for a non-job-connected disability as previously approved by the Committee since he
does' not have ten years of pension participation. This prior action of the Committee was
declared' null and void due to a violation of the "sunshine" law.
John Nicholson moved that Joseph DeSantis be granted a job-connected disability pension.
effective on a date to be determined, based on Sgt. DeSantis' disability that resulted from
on-the-job circumstances which is described as depression and post traumatic stress disorder,
',said disability making him permanently unable to perform his job and documented by medical
"statements 'of Dr. Vincent P. Skotko, dated June 20. 1990; Dr. A. G. Gonzalez. dated June 21, 1990;
and Dr. Alfred Fireman, dated September 18. 1990. The motion was duly seconded by
Fred Starzinger and carried unanimously.
Mr. Nicholson made the folJawing comment for 'the record: "I still haw reservations about this
pension. My biggest problem is that he will collect 75% after making very little contribution.
JtIs my opinion he's robbing money from my pension."
The Committee' considered the request from Mark Cot6, Maintenance Worker II, Parks &
Recreation Department, for a job-connected disability pension. After a short discussion.
Tom Pudelski moved that Mark Cote be granted a job-connected disability pension. effective on
a date to be determined. based on Mr. Cote's disability that resulted from on-the-job
circumstances which is described as a right rotator cuff tear. said disability making him
permanently unable to perform his job and documented by medical statements of
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Proceedings of the Pension Advisory Committee Meeting of Novcmber 29, 1990.
Pagc I
Present:
John Nicholson. Chairman
Tom Pudelski. Member
Fred Starzinger. Member
Deborah Ford, Personnel Department
Cynthia Cllman, Personnel Department
Nancy Degner. City Nurse
Joseph DeSantis. Police Sergeant
Louis Kwan. Esq.. Attorney for Sgt. DeSantis
Richard McCrea, Esq.. Attorney for Sgt. DeSantis
Glenda DcSantis
Mark Cot6
Joseph Pidalo, Assistant Fire Chief
Terry Clements. District Chief
Miles Lance. Assistant City Attorney
Glenn Perry, Parks & Recreation
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The, special meeting was called to order at 1 :35 P.M.
No action was taken on the request of Deborah Patterson, Meter Reader It Utilities
. Finance D.ivision, for a job~connected disability pension at the request of her attorney.
Tom Pudelski moved to table this matter until further action is taken by her attorney. The
motion was duly seconded by Fred Starzinger and carried unanimously.
With respect to the job-connected disability request of Joseph DeSantis. Police Sergeant,
Police Department, after some discussion Mr. Nicholson advised the Committee that in light
"of recent legal opinions and with further review of the Pension Plan, the Committee could only
approve or disapprove a job-connected disability pension for him. Sgt. DeSantis would not be
eligible for a non-jab-connected disability as previously approved by the Committee since he
'docs ,not have ten years of pension participation. This prior action of the Committee was
declared null and void due to a violation of the "sunshine" law.
John Nicholson moved that Joseph DeSantis be granted a job-connected disability pension.
effective on a date to be determined, based on Sgt. DeSantis' disability that resulted from
o~-the-job circumstances which is described ns depression and post traumatic stress disorder,
. said disability making him permanently unable to perform his job and documented by medical
statements of Dr. Vincent P. Skotko, dated June 20, 1990j Dr. A. G. Gonzalez. dated June 21, 1990;
,and Dr. Alfred Fireman, dated September 18. 1990. The motion was duly seconded by
Fred Starzinger and carried unanimously.
Mr. Nicholson made the following comment for the record: uI still have reservations about this
pension. My biggest problem is that he will collect 75% after making very little contribution.
It's my opinion he's robbing money from my pension."
The Committee considered the request from Mark Cot~, Maintenance Worker II, Parks &
Recreation Department. for a job-connected disability pension. Nfter a short discussion.
Tom Pudelski moved that Mark Cot6 be granted a job.connected disability pension, effective ,on
a date to be determined. based on Mr. Cote's disability that result~d from on-the-job
circumstances which is described as a right rotator cuff tear, said disability making him
,permanently unable to perform his job and' documented by medical statements of
Proceedings of the Pension Advisory Committee Meeting of November 29, 1990.
Page 2
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Dr. ,Richard O. Sellers, dated October 30, 1990, and Dr. Charles E. Abrahamsen, dated
November 6~ 1990. The motion was duly seconded by Fred Starzlngcr and carried unanimously.
The Committee considered the request of Salvatore Presti, Fire Lleutennnt, Fire
Department, for a job-connected disability pension. After a short discussion, Tom Pudelski
moved that Salvatore Presti be granted a job-conncctcd disability pension, effective on a date to
be determined. based on Mr. Presti's disability that resulted from on-the-job circumstances
which is described as spinal stenosis, said disability making him permanently unable to
, perform 'his job and documented by medical statements of Dr. Lowell J. Deehl, dated
October IS. 1990, and Dr. Douglas J. Weiland, datcd October 17. 1990. The motion was duly
seconded by Fred Starzinger and carried unanimously.
At the last meeting the Committee asked Michaal Laursen to check with the proper departments
on the, questions of 1) educational inccntive pay and its inclusion in pension computations for
Police Officers but not Firefighters and 2) whether IRS Code 415 applies to the City's pension.
Mr. Laursen did so but no responses have been received.
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Cindy eHman, Personnel Records Specialist, updated the Committee on the production of the
How Do J Retire? booklet. The original is on file with the Graphics Communication Division.
The requested change will be made and about 50 copies run at this time. Mr. Nicholson said the
cost' of the printing should be paid by the Pension Fund. Copies will be available upon request
of employees preparing to retire.
Tom Pudelski moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 2 I. 1990. The motion
was duly seconded by Fred Starzinger and, carried unanimously.
Fred Starzinger moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was duly seconded by.
. Tom. Pudelski 'and carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1 :56 P.M.
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Committee