02/14/2013
PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEEE MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 14, 2013
Present: Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice-Chair Tom Jensen, Committee
Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee Member Brian De Witt, Committee
Member/Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member Daniel Slaughter, and
Committee Member/Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito
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.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of the January 10, 2013, Pension Advisory Committee meeting
as submitted in written summation.
Member Jensen 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 employees Don March, Fire Department;
Robert Going, Fire Department; and John Pickart, Police Department for a
regular pension as provided by Sections 2.397 and 2.398 of the Employees
Pension Plan.
Don March, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the City on
November 24, 1986, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective February 1, 2013. Based on an average salary of
approximately $80,539.52 per year over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions, and Mr. March’s selection of the 75% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $57,998.04 annually.
Robert Going, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the City on
June 29, 1987 and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective February 1, 2013. Based on an average salary of
approximately $64,807.40 per year over the past five years, the formula for
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computing regular pensions, and Mr. Going’s selection of the 100% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $44,608.32 annually.
John Pickart, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on
August 10, 1992 and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective February 1, 2013. Based on an average salary of
approximately $76,807.95 per year over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions, and Mr. Pickart’s selection of the 100% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $43,370.88 annually.
Section 2.397 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.” Messrs. March, Going, and Pickart qualify under hazardous
duty criteria.
Member Jensen moved to approve Item 4.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
5. Review and Action on Employee Requests to Vest Pensions
5.1 Recommend approval of the request of employee Robert Scott Sullivan of the
Planning Department to vest his pension as provided by Section 2.397 of the
Employees Pension Plan.
Robert Scott Sullivan, Land Resource Specialist, Planning Department, was
employed by the City on July 29, 1991, and began participating in the Pension
Plan on that date. Mr. Sullivan terminated from City employment on December
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. Mr. Sullivan would have completed at least 20 years of service
and will reach age 55 on April 12, 2019.
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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 the new hires for acceptance into the pension plan as
listed.
Pension Name, Job. Class, and Dept./Div. Hire Date Elig. Date
Brian Meade, Fleet Mechanic, General Services Dept. 12/31/12 12/31/12
Vicki Hendrix, Parking Enforcement Spec, Parking System 12/31/12 12/31/12
Justin Fletcher, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Dept. 12/31/12 12/31/12
Robert Burnett, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities 12/31/12 12/31/12
Glenn Ferris, Park Service Tech I, Parks and Recreation 12/31/12 12/31/12
Tricia Terry, Library Assistant, Library Department 12/31/12 12/31/12
Daniel Gardner, Gas Technician I, Gas Department 12/31/12 12/31/12
Belinda Darcy, Police Social Service Specialist, Police Dept 12/31/12 12/31/12
Jon Bolger, Gas Technician I, Gas Department 12/31/12 12/31/12
Cameron Darby, Gas Technician I, Gas Department 12/31/12 12/31/12
Samantha Favire, Library Assistant, Library Department 01/12/13 01/12/13
Amanda Bearkland, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Rec. 01/14/13 01/14/13
Brian Lennon, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Rec. 01/14/13 01/14/13
David Pirages, Police Comm Op Trainee, Police Dept 01/14/13 01/14/13
Jerome Budde, Police Comm Op Trainee, Police Dept 01/14/13 01/14/13
Christin Brash Paquette, Police Comm Op Trainee, Police 01/14/13 01/14/13
Member DeWitt moved to approve Item 6.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
7. Pending/New Business
7.1 Set hearing dates for Kent Reeves and Terry Butler's disability pensions.
Kent Reeves
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed Kent Reeves’ application for a job-
connected disability pension and the requirements of Code. Documentation indicates
Mr. Reeves’ disability is job-connected and none of the listed exclusions applies. The
IME (Independent Medical Exam) determined that Kent Reeves is permanently disabled
from performing his duties as a police officer.
Consensus was to hear the case today.
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Member Hock-DiPolito moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the
personnel file, interrogatories, medical records, and the IME. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Slaughter moved that Kent Reeves is eligible for a disability pension as he is
disabled due to a job-connected sickness or injury and such disability is likely to be
continuous and permanent from a cause other than those listed as general disability
exclusions and. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Terry Butler
Mr. Roseto reviewed Terry Butler’s application for a job-connected disability pension
and the requirements of the Code. Mr. Butler’s serious on-the-job injury was the result
of a criminal act. The City has no other position that Mr. Butler can reasonably perform.
Documentation indicates Mr. Butler’s disability is job-connected and none of the listed
exclusions applies. The IME determined that Terry Butler is permanently disabled from
performing his duties. In response to a question, Mr. Roseto reviewed the formula to
determine Mr. Butler’s compensation. Disability pension recipients must submit annual
medical documentation verifying the disability continues to exist. This disability pension
request accelerated the date of Mr. Butler’s retirement.
Consensus was to hear the case today.
Member DeWitt moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the personnel
file, interrogatories, medical records, and the IME (Independent Medical Exam). The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Gibson moved that Terry Butler is eligible for a disability pension as he is
disabled due to a 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.
8. Director's Reports: None.
9. Committee Members to be Heard
Members expressed appreciation for the efforts of Mr. Reeves and Mr. Butler on behalf
of the City, expressed sympathy for the circumstances of Mr. Butler’s injury, and sent
good wishes to both.
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Member Jonson reviewed topics presented at last month's Florida Public Pension
Trustees Association event.
Member Hock-DiPolito wished all a Happy Valentine's Day.
10. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:13 a.m.
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Chair
Attest Pension Advisory Committee
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:oard Rep• -
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