10/13/2011
PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 13, 2011
Present: Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice-Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member/Councilmember
John Doran, Committee Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee Member Brian De
Witt, Committee Member/Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member Daniel Slaughter
Also present: Joe Roseto – Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call to Order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the September 8, 2011, Pension Advisory Committee meeting
as submitted in written summation.
Member Jonson referenced a typo on page 2.
Member Jensen moved to approve Item 2.1 as corrected. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
3. Employees to be Heard: None.
4. Review and Action on Employee Requests for Regular Pension
4.1 Recommend approval of the request of employee Donald Filmon, Public Services
Department; Daniel Doyle, Solid Waste/General Services Department; and Stephan
Hole, Police Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.397 and 2.398
of the Employees’ Pension Plan.
,
Donald Filmon, Right-of-Way Maintenance Manager, Public Services Departmentwas
employed by the City on June 3, 1991, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective October 1, 2011. Based on an average salary of
approximately $59,492 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions, and Mr. Filmon’s selection of the Joint & Survivor Annuity, this
pension will approximate $33,252 annually.
Daniel Doyle, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste/General Services
,
Department was employed by the City on August 3, 1987, and his pension service
credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective January 1, 2012. Based on
an average salary of approximately $45,484 per year over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr. Doyle’s selection of the 100% Joint &
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $29,879 annually.
Stephan Hole, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on
November 14, 1988, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective October 1, 2011. Based on an average salary of approximately
Pension Advisory 10/13/2011 1
$77,926 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions,
and Mr. Hole’s selection of the Joint & Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate
$49,027 annually.
Section 2.397 provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has completed
thirty years of credited service, has reached age 55 and completed twenty years of
credited service, or has reached age 65 and completed ten years of credited service.
Section 2.397 also provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has
completed twenty years of credited service or has reached age 55 and completed ten
years of credited service in a type of employment described as “hazardous duty” and
further defines service as a Police Officer as meeting the hazardous duty criteria.
Messrs.
Filmon and Doyle qualify under the age 55 and 20 years of service criteria. Mr.
Hole qualifies under the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Doran moved to approve Item 4.1. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
5. Approval of New Hires as Plan Members:
5.1 Recommend approval of new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Hire Date Elig. Date
David Dreslin, Drafting & Mapping Technician/Engineering 08/15/11 08/15/11
Mark Sharman, Customer Svc. Acctg. Rep./Marine & Aviation 04/30/11 08/29/11
Angela Lapread, Customer Svc. Rep./Customer Service 08/29/11 08/29/11
Kathryn McGrath, Public Utilities Coordinator/Public Utilities 08/29/11 08/29/11
Jeffrey Gilliam, Public Services Technician I/Public Services 08/29/11 08/29/11
Carlos Rosero, Public Services Technician I/Public Services 08/29/11 08/29/11
Christopher Melton, Parks Service Tech. I/Parks & Recreation 02/22/11 08/29/11
Patricia Neumann, Systems Analyst/Customer Service 08/29/11 08/29/11
Benjamin Sharp, Field Service Rep./Customer Service 09/12/11 09/12/11
Lauren Lopez, Customer Service Rep./Customer Service 09/12/11 09/12/11
William Carter, Recreation Leader/Parks & Recreation 09/12/11 09/12/11
Ron Nelson, WWT Plant Operator A/Public Utilities 09/12/11 09/12/11
Feth Benbelgacem, SW Worker/Solid Waste-General Services 05/03/11 09/12/11
Michael Birnbaum, SW Worker/Solid Waste-General Services 04/12/11 09/12/11
Troy Tarver, SW Worker/Solid Waste-General Services 09/12/11 09/12/11
Franco Sanzo, Parking Enforcement Officer/Engineering 09/12/11 09/12/11
Joshua Burdo, SW Worker/Solid Waste-General Services 05/23/11 09/12/11
Thomas Edwards, Fleet Mechanic/Solid Waste-General Svcs. 09/12/11 09/12/11
Leander Phillips, SW Worker/Solid Waste-General Services 09/12/11 09/12/11
Mark Sharman originally was employed on April 30, 2011 as part-time; promoted to full-
time and pension eligible as of August 29, 2011. Christopher Melton originally was
employed as temporary on February 22, 2011; transferred to permanent and pension
eligible as of August 29, 2011. Feth Benbelgacem originally was employed as
temporary on May 3, 2011; transferred to permanent and pension eligible as of
September 12, 2011. Michael Birnbaum originally was employed as temporary on April
12, 2011; transferred to permanent and pension eligible as of September 12, 2011.
Pension Advisory 10/13/2011 2
Joshua Burdo originally was employed as temporary on May 23, 2011; transferred to
permanent and pension eligible as of September 12, 2011.
Member DeWitt moved to approve Item 5.1. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
6. Pending/New Business
6.1. Hearing for Jack DeShazo's request for non-job-connected disability pension.
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed PAC (Pension Advisory Committee)
procedures for disability hearings. Jack DeShazo has applied for a non-job-connected disability
pension. The City has determined it has no meaningful work for Mr. DeShazo. The Pension
Attorney opined an IME (Independent Medical Exam) would be consistent with submitted
medical documentation and is not required; documentation is sufficient to determine that Mr.
DeShazo is permanently disabled and qualifies for a non-job-connected disability pension.
None of the listed exclusions applies.
Member Jonson moved for the PAC to conduct a hearing today regarding Jack
DeShazo’s application for a non-job-connected disability pension. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Doran moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the personnel
file, interrogatories, and medical records. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
Member Doran moved that submitted medical documentation meets criteria for an IME.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member DeWitt moved that Jack DeShazo is disabled due to a non-job-connected
sickness or injury, such disability is likely to be continuous and permanent from a cause other
than those listed as general disability exclusions, and such disability renders the participant
unable to perform any useful, meaningful, and necessary work for the employer in an available
position for which the participant is reasonably qualified or for which the participant may be
reasonably trained to perform. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Mr. DeShazo said he had worked hard for the City and thanked the City for providing
him the opportunity. He said he was saddened to leave his job, which he loved. Board
members thanked him for his service and contributions to the City.
7. Director's Reports
7.1.Daniel McCue Disability Application
Mr. Roseto said Daniel McCue’s advocate and the City’s Pension Attorney are ready to
set a date for the hearing.
Members Jonson and Doran reported they could not attend the meeting on November
10, 2011.
Pension Advisory 10/13/2011 3
Member Slaughter moved to reschedule the next meeting of the PAC to November 27,
2011 and to schedule a hearing regarding Daniel McCue's disability application for that
date. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Louis Georgantas' Disability Application
Mr. Roseto will check with the Pension Attorney regarding his availability and contact
the board with possible dates to schedule a preliminary hearing for Louis Georgantas'
disability application.
Member Jonson said he cannot attend a meeting on November 27, 2011.
Member Doran moved to schedule the preliminary hearing for Louis Georgantas'
disability application at the next meeting of the PAC on a date to be determined. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Slaughter moved to reschedule the next meeting of the PAC to a date to be
determined. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Attorney/Client Session
Mr. Roseto reported the Pension Attorney concurs with Assistant City Attorney Leslie
Dougall-Sides that the PAC cannot hold an attorney/client session outside the sunshine.
He will forward the attorney's email to board members.
8. Committee Members to be Heard
Member Slaughter thanked Mr. Roseto for providing information regarding light duty in the
Police Department.
Members said Mr. DeShazo's statement had been profound; they wished him well.
9. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
Following the meeting, the next meeting of the PAC was scheduled f,,r Tuesday, November, 29,
2011, at 10:30 a.m. n -7 /
Chair 1
Attest Pension Advisory ommittee Ad,
•ard Repo e'
Pension Advisory 10/13/2011 4