05/10/2012
PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 10, 2012
Present: Vice-Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee
Member/Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member Daniel Slaughter, Committee
Member/Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito
Absent: Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member Brian De Witt,
Also present: Joe Roseto – Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call to Order
The 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 April 12, 2012, Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Jonson 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 Karen Dombrowski, Police
Department; Steven Jackson, Solid Waste/General Services Department; Donald Ford,
Police Department; E. Joanne Bunton, Library Department; Robert Pagano, Police
Department; Michael Sahr, Police Department; John Zegzdryn, Police Department; and
George Koder, Police Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.397
and 2.398 of the Employees’ Pension Plan.
Karen Dombrowski, Administrative Support Manager, Police Department, was employed
by the City on April 12, 1982, and her pension service credit is effective on that date.
Her pension will be effective August 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of
approximately $61,460 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions, and Ms. Dombrowski’s selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension will approximate $51,197 annually.
Steven Jackson, Production Control Coordinator, Solid Waste/General Services
Department, was employed by the City on November 16, 1981, and his pension service
credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective October 1, 2012. Based on
an average salary of approximately $65,817 per year over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr. Jackson’s selection of the 100% Joint
and Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $55,453 annually.
Donald Ford, Custodial Worker, Police Department, was employed by the City on May
4, 1992, and his pension service credit is effective on August 3, 1992. His pension will
Pension Advisory Committee 5/10/2012 1
be effective September 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately $29,379
per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr.
Ford’s selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate
$15,581 annually.
E. Joanne Bunton, Library Assistant, Library Department, was employed by the City on
April 23, 2001, and her pension service credit is effective on April 20, 2002. Her
pension will be effective July 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately
$23,997 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions,
and Ms. Bunton’s selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will
approximate $6,726 annually.
Robert Pagano, Police Aide, Police Department, was employed by the City on May 24,
1999, and his pension service credit is effective on September 21, 2002. His pension
will be effective October 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately $24,503
per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr.
Pagano’s selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate
$6,738 annually.
Michael Sahr, Police Major, Police Department, was employed by the City on July 12,
1982, 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 $99,311 per year
over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr. Sahr’s
selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $80,520
annually.
John Zegzdryn, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the City on
November 4, 1985, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension
will be effective May 1, 2012. Based on an average salary of approximately $89,077 per
year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr.
Zegzdryn’s selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will
approximate $63,918 annually.
George Koder, Police Lieutenant, Police Department, was employed by the City on
December 30, 1991, 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
$103,102 per year over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions,
and Mr. Koder’s selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will
approximate $57,258 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 Major, Police Sergeant, and Police Lieutenant as
meeting the hazardous duty criteria. Ms. Dombrowski and Mr. Jackson qualify under
Pension Advisory Committee 5/10/2012 2
the thirty years of service criteria. Mr. Ford qualifies under the age 55 and twenty years
of service criteria. Ms. Bunton and Mr. Pagano qualify under the age 65 and 10 years of
service criteria. Messrs. Sahr, Zegzdryn, and Koder qualify under the hazardous duty
criteria.
Member Slaughter 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
Andrea Fisher, Parking Enforcement Specialist/Engineering 04/09/12 04/09/12
John Ryder, SW Equip. Operator/SW-General Services 04/10/12 04/10/12
Tracy Loibl, Crime Scene Technician/Police Services 04/23/12 04/23/12
Dustin Purcell, Parks Services Tech. I/Parks & Recreation 04/23/12 04/23/12
Mark Parry, Planner III/Planning & Development 04/23/12 04/23/12
Terrance Elkins, Parks Service Tech. I/Parks & Recreation 04/23/12 04/23/12
Member Slaughter moved to approve Item 5.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
6. Pending/New Business:
6.1 Set Hearing Date for Disability Application
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said members had received information
regarding Lynn Donagan’s application for a normal retirement. Ms. Donagan, a 14-year
employee, qualifies for a retirement benefit when she reaches age 65 in April 2013. Her
medical records indicate she is terminally ill. Based on those records, the Pension Plan
attorney and staff recommend against spending plan money for interrogatories and an
IME (Independent Medical Exam). If the PAC chooses to act, Ms. Donagan meets the
criteria for a disability pension; her benefit will be lower than it would be next April.
Support was expressed for granting Ms. Donagan a pension without requiring
interrogatories and an IME.
Member Jonson moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the personnel
file and medical records, which substitute for an IME (Independent Medical Exam). The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Gibson moved to grant Lynn Donagan a non-job-connected disability pension
as Ms. Donagan 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
Pension Advisory Committee 5/10/2012 3
unanimously.
7. Director's Reports
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reported Deb Ford is retiring, complimented her
expertise, and thanked her for her years of efforts. Committee members also
complimented Ms. Ford on the great job she performed for the City.
8. Committee Members to be Heard:
Member Slaughter said many great and talented people are retiring from the Police Department
and complimented their contributions.
Committee Members thanked retirees for their service to the City.
9. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 a.m.
Chair
Attest Pension Advisory Committee
::ard Repo
Pension Advisory Committee 5/10/2012 4