04/12/2012
PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 12, 2012
Present: Vice-Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee
Member Brian De Witt, Committee Member/Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member
Daniel Slaughter, Committee Member/Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito
Absent: Chair Nathan Hightower
Also present: Joe Roseto – Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call to Order
The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the March 8, 2012, Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member De Witt moved to approve Item 2.1. 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 Richard DeBord, Planning &
Development Department; Deborah Ford, Human Resources Department; Anna
Fierstein, Human Resources Department; Gary Coffey, Public Utilities Department;
Robert Baxter, Public Utilities Department; and Diane Manni, City Council Department,
for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.397 and 2.398 of the Employees’
Pension Plan..
Richard DeBord, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning and Development Services
Department, was employed by the City on September 28, 1987, and his pension service
credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective June 1, 2012. Based on an
average salary of approximately $50,727 per year over the past five years, the formula
for computing regular pensions, and Mr. DeBord’s selection of the 100% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $33,763 annually.
Deborah L. Ford, Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources Department, was
employed by the City on May 13, 1985, and her pension service credit is effective on
that date. Her pension will be effective June 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of
approximately $55,650 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions, and Ms. Ford’s selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension will approximate $40,898 annually.
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Anna Fierstein, Senior Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources Department, was
employed by the City on November 29, 1982, and her pension service credit is effective
on that date. Her pension will be effective June 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of
approximately $60,148 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions, and Ms. Fierstein’s selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity,
this pension will approximate $47,656 annually.
Gary Coffey, Utilities Mechanic Supervisor II, Public Utilities Department, was employed
by the City on June 9 1986, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective July 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately
$64,079 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions,
and Mr. Coffey’s selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will
approximate $47,502 annually.
Robert Baxter, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities Department, was employed by the City
on July 8, 1985, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will
be effective June 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately $47,099 per
year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr.
Baxter’s selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate
$34,838 annually.
Diane Manni, Executive Assistant, City Council Department, was employed by the City
on October 13, 1997, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her
pension will be effective June 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately
$42,068 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions,
and Ms. Manni’s selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will
approximate $16,929 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.
Ms. Ford, Ms. Fierstein, and Messrs. DeBord, Coffey, and Baxter qualify under the age
55 and twenty years of service criteria. Ms. Manni qualifies under the age 65 and 10
years of service criteria.
Member Slaughter moved to approve Item 4.1. The motion was duly seconded.
Retiring staff was thanked for their hard work and numerous contributions to the City.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
5. Review and Action on Employee Requests to Vest Pensions
5.1 Recommend approval of the request of employee Kristin Hoekstra, Fire Department,
and Janet Harrison, Parks & Recreation Department, to vest their pensions as provided
by Section 2.397 of the Employees’ Pension Plan.
Kristin Hoekstra, Firefighter, Fire Department, was employed by the City on May 7,
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2001, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Ms. Hoekstra
terminated from City employment on March 23, 2012
Janet Harrison, Recreation Specialist, Parks and Recreation Department, was
employed by the City on March 3, 1986, and began participating in the Pension Plan
on that date. Ms. Harrison terminated from City employment on March 14, 2012.
The Employees’ Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an
employee of the City of Clearwater or change status from full-time to part-time after
completing ten or more years of creditable service (pension participation), such
employee shall acquire a vested interest in the retirement benefits. Vested pension
payments commence on the first of the month following the month in which the
employee normally would have been eligible for retirement.
Section 2.397) provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has
reached age 55 and completed twenty years of credited service, has completed 30
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 in a type of employment
described as “hazardous duty” and further specifically defines service as a Firefighter
as meeting the hazardous duty criteria. Ms. Hoekstra would have completed at least
20 years of service on May 7, 2021. Her pension will be effective June 1, 2021. Ms.
Harrison would have completed at least 20 years of service and reached age 55 on
December 11, 2014. Her pension will be effective January 1, 2015.
The Employees’ Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an
employee of the City of Clearwater or change status from full-time to part-time after
completing ten or more years of creditable service (pension participation), such
employee shall acquire a vested interest in the retirement benefits. Vested pension
payments commence on the first of the month following the month in which the
employee normally would have been eligible for retirement. Section 2.397 provides
for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has reached age 55 and completed
twenty years of credited service, has completed 30 years of credited service, or has
reached age 65 and completed ten years of credited service. Mr. Allen would have
completed at least 20 years of service and reached age 55 on October 21, 2012. His
pension will be effective November 1, 2012.
Member Jonson moved to approve Item 5.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
6. Approval of New Hires as Plan Members:
6.1 Recommend approval of new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Hire Date Elig. Date
Sammy Cruz, WWTP Operator B/Public Utilities 02/14/12 02/14/12
Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Maintenance Wkr./SW/General Services 02/13/12 02/13/12
Christin Harris, Customer Svc. Rep./Planning & Development 02/27/12 02/27/12
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Michael Beaver, Police Officer/Police 02/27/12 02/27/12
Justin Murray, Police Officer/Police 02/27/12 02/27/12
Jason Moore, Police Cadet/Police 02/27/12 02/27/12
Eric Mitchell, Police Officer/Police 02/27/12 02/27/12
Lauren Josey, Police Cadet/Police 02/27/12 02/27/12
Timothy Carter, Custodian/ Parks & Recreation 02/25/12 02/25/12
Michael Bauer, Marine Facilities Operator/Marine & Aviation 11/05/11 02/25/12
Melissa Serrano, Parking Enforcement Spec./Engineering 02/13/12 02/13/12
Jake Jones, Parks Service Technician I/Parks & Recreation 03/12/12 03/12/12
Andre Simes, Field Service Representative/Customer Service 12/05/09 03/26/12
Lisa Massarelli, Water Dist. Operator Trainee/Public Utilities 03/12/12 03/12/12
Scott Paulk II, Parks Service Technician I/Parks & Recreation 03/12/12 03/12/12
Antonio Notardonato, Fleet Mechanic/SW/General Services 03/12/12 03/12/12
Claire Sherman, Library Assistant/Library 12/14/10 03/25/12
Michael Campagna, SW Worker/SW/General Services 09/19/11 03/26/12
Deborah Ellis, Gas Service Dispatcher/Gas 03/26/12 03/26/12
Joseph Reep, Building Con. Insp./Planning and Devopment 03/26/12 03/26/12
Michael Bauer originally was hired as part-time on November 5, 2011; transferred to full-
time and pension eligible as of February 25, 2012. Andre Simes originally was hired as
part-time on December 5, 2009; transferred to full-time and pension eligible as of March
26, 2012. Claire Sherman originally was hired as part-time on December 14, 2010;
transferred to full-time and pension eligible as of March 25, 2012. Michael Campagna
originally was hired as temporary on September 19, 2011; transferred to full-time and
pension eligible as of March 26, 2012.
Member De Witt moved to approve Item 6.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
7. Pending/New Business
7.1 Set hearing date for Scott Paulk's non-job-connected disability application.
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed Scott Paulk’s disability application; the
City has medically released Mr. Paulk; he last worked in March 2011. Based on
discussions between staff and the Pension Plan attorney, it was felt an IME
(Independent Medical Exam) would not provide more remarkable information; Mr.
Paulk’s physicians have indicated his disability is total and permanent. Mr. Paulk has
worked more than 20 years for the City and qualifies for a normal retirement in less than
five years. There is no expectation Mr. Paulk will be able to return to work due to his
medical condition.
Mr. Roseto reviewed requirements of the Code.
Discussion ensued with support expressed for granting Mr. Paulk a non-job-connected
disability pension. Mr. Roseto said should Mr. Paulk recover, he would have the
opportunity to return to work. None of the listed exclusions applies.
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Member De Witt moved to accept into evidence the entire file inclusive of
medical records which substitute for an IME (Independent Medical Exam). The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Jonson moved to grant Scott Paulk a non-job connected disability
pension as his disability is due to a non-job-connected sickness and such disability is
likely to be continuous and permanent from a cause other than those listed as general
disability exclusions. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Board members offered sympathy to Mr. Paulk and his family and sent prayers and best
wishes.
8. Director's Reports: None.
9. Committee Members to be Heard: None.
10. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:14 a.m.
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Chair '
Attest Pension Advisory Committee
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Board Report:
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