09/11/1997 (2)
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PAC
, Pension Advisory Committee
Minutes
Date
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Absent:
J. B. Johnson
Vice Chair/Commissioner
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PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 11, 1997
Present:
Rita Garvey
Robert Clark
Pat Shepler
Pat Greer
Dick Fitzgerald
John Seaees
Leslie Dougall-Sides
Michael Laursen
Patricia O. Sullivan
Chair/Mayor
Committee Member/Commissioner
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Assistant City Attorney
Human Resources Director
Board Reporter
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 ~ Aooroval of Minutes
c:>
Member Clark moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 14,
1997. as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 ~ Emolovees to be Heard - None.
ITEM #4 ~ Action Items
a) Review and Action on Employee Requests for Years of Service Pension
1) John P. Geisel. Jr. - Gas Service Supervisor, Gas Department
2) Donald A. Meerians. ~ Assistant Traffic Engineer, Engineering Department
Member Fitzgerald moved to approve Years of Service Pensions for John P. Geisel,
Jr. and ponald A. Meerians. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
b) Review and Action on Employee Request to Vest Pension
1) Terence C. Jennings - Chief Engineer, Engineering Department
Terence C. Jennings has resigned after 21 % years of service and has requested
vesting his pension. .
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Member Clark moved to approve the request by Terence C. Jennings to vest his
Pension. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Human Resources Director Michael Laursen reported procedures are being drafted
to address vesting requirements.
c) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members
Mr. Laursen said according to the physician recommendations, the listed new hires
meet Pension Plan criteria. In response to a question regarding the date an employee
changed from part-time to full-time status, he stated this action is common in the Police
Department's Communication operations which employ full-time and part-time positions in
the same class. He believed some employees previously had switched to part-time
positions to recoup their Pension Plan contributions. The Police Department is working to
prevent unnecessary changes. Some employees switch to part-time positions due to
childbirth, etc., which are legitimate reasons for change. This flexibility allows the City to
retain highly skilled operators. Many departments have part-time positions and also are
affected by this concern.
Member Fitzgerald moved to accept the following employees into membership in
the Pension Plan:
Date of
Emolovment
()
Kenneth Cotton, Maintenance Wrkr I
Michael Vaillancourt, Walder
Tim Keene, Groundskeeper 1
James Jackson, Maintenance Wrkr I
Robert Carpenter, Maint. Worker II
David Veile, WWTP Operator Trainee
Jere Jones, WWTP Operator Trainee
Allen Mardis, Human Res. Specialist
Johnnie McFarlane, Maint. Worker I
Kelly Myrick, Staff Assistant II
Jeanmarie Kabala, Compo Ed. Coord.
Shawna Service, Police Comm. Oper.
Solid Waste Department08/04/97
Solid Waste Department08/04/97
Parks &. Recreation Dept08/04/97
Parks &. Recreation Dept08/04/97
Parks &. Recreation Dept08/04/97
Engineering Department 08/04/97
Engineering Department 08/04/97
OeD Department 08/18/97
Solid Waste Department 08/18/97
Police Department 06/23/97
Information Mgmt. 07/14/97
Police Department 04/07/86
The motion was duly seconded carried unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Pendina/New Business
a) Discussion Re: Pension Physicals
Pension
Elio. Date.
08/04/97
08/04/97
08/04/97
08/04/97
08/04/97
08/04/97
08/04/97
08/18/97
08/1 8/97
06/23/97
07/14/97
07/07/97
Mr. Laursen presented a brief overview of the proposal to transfer the cost of pre-
employment physicals from the City to the Pension Plan. Physicals are used to confirm
new hires' ability to handle their positions' physical requirements and to determine their
eligibility to join the Pension Plan. The former City Manager had supported changing the
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~ funding from the City to the Pension Plan. Mr. Laursen said of local governments
, contacted by staff, 5 had no physical requirement for pension plan participation. The sixth
government, the City of Largo, pays all costs for physicals. It was noted Deputy City
Manager Kathy Rice had recommended no action be taken regarding this issue. Mr.
Laursen recommended continuing the requirement for physicals as the City needs to know
new employees are physically able to handle their positions and physicals identify
preexisting conditions for the Pension Plan. He recommended no change to the current
practice of the City paying for physicals. This issue can be brought back if staff deems it
should be explored again. .
b) Discussion Re: Receipt of Letter concerning David Ford
In her August 14, 1997, Zan S. Barber, representative for David Ford, requested
scheduling a date to address and resolve his Pension claim that his disability should be
considered job-connected.
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Mr. Laursen reported David Ford. a former Spray Technician with the Parks &
Recreation Department, had appeared before the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) and
requested a job-connected disability. The PAC did not think sufficient evidence had been
presented to support that claim. The PAC approved a non-job connected disability for Mr.
Ford with a provision that he could submit further evidence supporting his claim that his
disability is job-connected. Ms. Barber requested an opportunity to present his argument
to the PAC. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall~Sides said a procedure is in place to
address disability issues and suggested the applicant submit a Supplemental Disability
Request Packet.
In response to a question, Mr. Laursen stated although Risk Management Specialist-
Workers Compensation Jon Marcin and Risk Manager Leo Schrader could better address
this issue, he understood the City's settlement of a Worker's Compensation claim filed by
Mr. Ford does not acknowledge any relationship between his disability and job. Ms.
Dougall-Sides said payment was made in exchange for Mr. Ford dropping his Worker's
Compensation claim.
Mr. Laursen suggested forwarding to Ms. Barber the standard disability packet, with
the supplemental application. Ms. Dougall-Sides said the applicant only needs to submit
new information and documentation and is not required to respond to questions or include
copies of information previously provided. After the information is submitted, additional
Legal Dc;lpartment interrogatories may be required. In response to a question, Mr. Laursen
said he believed the State of Florida had reviewed the Parks & Recreation Department's
spray procedures and found them to be satisfactory. If that is the case, he wiIJ provide the
PAC a copy of that report. It was recommended staff search all Worker's Compensation
claims filed by Mr. Ford to review documented exposure during specific occurrences. It
was noted the doctor's finding of chemical irritation of Mr. Ford's lungs could be related to
home exposure.
Consensus was for Mr. Laursen to send Ms. Barber a letter informing her of the
procedure.
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':) ITEM #6 - Directorts'ReDorts
The next PAC meeting is scheduled for October 9, 1997.
Mr. Laursen reported Member Johnson cannot attend the next meeting and had
questioned if the meeting date could be changed. It was determined a change would '
cause other absences. Consensus was to not change the October meeting date.
ITEM #7 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
C air
Pension Advisory Committee
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