08/14/1997 (2)
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Pension Advisory Committee '
Minutes
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PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 14, 1997
Present:
Rita Garvey
J. a.Johnson
Robert Clark
Pat Greer
Dick Fitzgerald
Leslie Dougall-Sides
Michael Laursen
Patricia O. Sullivan
Chair/Mayor
Vice Chair/Commissioner
Committee Member/Commissioner
Committee Member
Committee Member
Assistant City Attorney
Human Resources Director
Board Reporter
Absent:
Pat Shepler
John Seaeca
Committee Member
Committee Member
, The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m, at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
ITEM #2 w Approval of Minutes
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Member Fitzgerald referred to page 8, paragraph 5, sentence 2 of the June 12. 1997,
minutes. The sentence should read ", , , and suggested contemplating independent counsel
. when similar cases are considered,"
Member Greer moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 1 2,
1997, as amended, and the July 10, 1997, minutes as recorded and submitted in written
summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carrIed
unanimously.
ITEM #3 w Employees to be Heard - None.
ITEM #4 w Action Items
a.) Review and Action on Employee Requests for Years of Service Pension
1) Paul E. Reese, Jr. w Police Sergeant, Police Department - hazardous duty provision
2) Robert J. Bekker - Police Lieutenant, Pollee Department w hazardous duty proYision
3) David G. Hawkins ~ Fire District Chief, Fire Department w hazardous duty provision
4) Willie Marcus w Maintenance Worker I, Public Services Department
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Member Johnson moved to approve Years of Service Pensions for Paul E. Reese, Jr"
Robert J. Bekk.er, David G. Hawkins, and Willie Marcus. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
b) Review and Action on Employee Request to Vest Pension
1) David C. Watson - Police Officer, Police Department
Human Resources Director Michael Laursen said Police Officer David Watson has
resigned after 14 Y2 years of service and has requested vesting his pension.
It was questioned why the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) acts on this type of
request. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides said language in the Pension Plan
suggests vesting is automatic. This action relates to necessary paperwork. Mr. Laursen
stated employees who resign after 10 years of service but before retirement can vest their
pension or receive a lump sum, consisting of their contributions to the Pension Plan plus 5%
interest. Payroll Services needs to record Vested Pensions and take certain steps when
payment begins. The department is reviewing files for employees who resigned without
formally choosing an alternative. It was recommended staff develop a procedure to address
this issue. It was suggested the City contact qualified employees within 30 to 60 days of their
resignation. Mr. Laursen said, depending on the ordinance's legal language, an automatic
policy could either vest employees or send them a check. It was recommended this issue be
incorporated in exit procedures under development. It was felt a procedure should be
instituted now to address future resignations.
Ms. Dougall-Sides recommended ascertaining employees' intentions at the exit
interview. In response to a question, Mr. Laursen indicated staff contacts all retirees annually
to update City records and could contact all employees who have vested as well. It was,
recommended the City issue checks to those who had not made a formal decision, Ms.
Dougall~Sides said the financial impacts of both options need to be considered. Staff will
contact the Citis actuary for a recommendation. It was noted the City should verify an
employee's address prior to cutting and mailing a check.
Member Greer moved to approve the request by David C. Watson to vest his Pension.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
c) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members
Mr. Laursen said he had reviewed all physician recommendations, noting clinic
physicians had failed to indicate these employees meet Pension Plan criteria: 1) Kelly Myrick ~
Staff Assistant II. Police Department and 2) Jeanmarie Kabala, Computer Education
Coordinator, Information Management. He recommended pulling these employees from
consideration. contacting the physicians regarding the discrepancies. and presenting their
names next month. Regarding pre~existing conditions, Mr. Laursen noted: 1) David Laatsch -
System Analyst/Programmer I, Information Management had a broken left elbow; 2) Joseph
DeBose - Maintenance Worker I, Parks & Recreation Department had a fractured jaw; and 3)
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Tania Allch - Potlce Recruit, Police Department had undergone a left hip replacement. Ms.
DougaU-Sldes Indicated all Police Officers are certified to meet minimum standards.
Mr. Laursen said according to the physician recommendations, the listed new hires
meet Pension Plan criteria.
Member Johnson moved to accept the following employees into membership in the
Pension Plan:
Date of
Emplovment
John Stone, Public Service Technician Public Services Dept. 06/23/97
Thomas Arruda, Computer Rep, Tech Information Management 06/23/97
David Laatsch. System Anal/Prog I Information Management 06/23/97
Duanna Anderson. Life Haz. Safe Insp. Fire Department 07/07/97
John Memmer, Custodial Worker General Services OS/27/97
Darrell Folk, Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Sherry Cason, Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Richard Kelly, Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Tania Alich, Police Recruit Police Dp.partment 07/21/97
David Derrick, Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Jason Deary, Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Adam Weinberg. Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Christian Zarra. Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
William Gallagher, Police Recruit Police Department 07/21/97
Joseph DeBose, Maintenance Worker I Parks & Recreation Dept 07/21/97
John Chatman, Maintenance Worker I Solid Waste Department 07/21/97
I,:)
The motion was duly seconded carried unanimously,
ITEM #5 . Pending/New Business
a) Discussion Re: Pension Physicals
Pension
Eliq, Date.
06/23/97
06/23/97
06/23/97
07/07/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/2'1197
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
07/21/97
. Mr. Laursen referred to the Human Resources Department proposal to transfer the cost
of pre-employment physicals from the City to the Pension Plan. Staff suggested the PAC
make a recommendation to the Pension Trustees regarding this issue for final approval. It was
noted the prior City Manager had agreed with this recommendation. Mr. Laursen stated both
the City and Pension Plan use the results of the physical examinations and felt it reasonable
for both entities to share the costs. In response to a question, he said staff indicated other
municipalities are reluctant to share information about their Pension Plans. It was noted this
information should be public. In response to a question, Mr. Laursen said more than 99% of
Police Officers and Firefighters in Clearwater belong to their respective unions while
approximately 20% of general employees in Clearwater belong to their Union, In response to
a question, he said employees who pass the post~hire physical are approved for membership
In the Pension Plan automatically due to ADA (Americans with Disability Act) regulations
unless actuarial data, based on a person's impairment, indicate the Plan would be
unreasonably ,affected.
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~ Ms. Dougall~Sldes said the City has no data on denials of employment due to physical
problems. Mr. Laursen said few applicants are rejected due to a medical basis. Most of those
rejected fall the drug test. In response to a question, Mr. Laursen indicated the City no longer
requires agility tests for Firefighters and Police Officers although these employees must meet
the certification requirements of the Police or Fire Academy. It was felt PAC should not pay for
the physical examinations. It was noted a memorandum from Member Shepler indicated his
opposition.
Data regarding the practices of local municipalities was requested.
Member Clark moved to continue Item #5a until all members are present for discussion.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #6 ~ Director's Reoorts
Mr. Laursen reported staff has forwarded classification descriptions for all City positions
to the clinic providing post-offer physical examinations. The packet sent to the clinic for every
examination also includes the applicable job classification description.
Mr. Laursen reported Fiscal Manager Margie Simmons could not attend to day's
meeting to answer questions regarding the fund but will make a future presentation. It was
requested invitations to attend be sent to employees who are members of the Plan.
{~i1l\ As Information for the PAC, Mr. Laursen reported Police Officer Robert Heine, who
'If:.,,! resigned 'June 13, 1997, was in an automobile accident in which his wife and one of his
children were killed. This was prior to the mailing of his first pension check. Payroll staff
questioned if he could change his beneficiary. Mr. Laursen contacted the City's Actuary, Steve
Metz, who indicated the Plan is not clear on this issue but felt the beneficiary cannot be
changed. In response to a question, Ms. Dougall-Sides said the beneficiary cannot be
changed in case of divorce. She suggested if changes are to be allowed, they should be
based on hardships. Mr. Laursen noted a Pension's value is based on the age of the
participant and beneficiary. It was recommended staff research this issue further.
The next PAC meeting is scheduled for September 11, 1997.
ITEM #7 - AdJournment
o
Chair
Pension Advisory Committe
The meeting adjourned at 9:43 a.m. \
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