10/10/2013 PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 10, 2013
Present: Vice-Chair Daniel Slaughter, Committee Member Tom Jensen, Committee
Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee Member Clyde Renfroe
Absent: Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member/ Councilmember Bill Jonson,
Committee Member/Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito
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.
2. Employees/Citizens to be Heard: None.
3. Approval of Minutes
3.1 Approve minutes of September 12, 2013 Pension Advisory Committee meeting
as provided in written summation
Member Jensen moved to approve Item 3.1. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
4. Review and Action on Employee Requests for Regular Pension
4.1 Recommend approval of the following request of employee Alice Eckman,
Engineering Department; for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416
and 2.424 of the Employees Pension Plan.
Alice Eckman, Construction Office Specialist, Engineering Department, was
employed by the City on July 9, 1984 and her pension service credit is effective
on that date. Her pension will be effective November 1, 2013. Based on an
average salary of approximately $43,576.92 over the past five years, the formula
for computing regular pensions and Ms. Eckman's selection of the 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $36,235.32 annually.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty
employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (1/1/13), a
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member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which
a participant has reached the age of 55 years and completed twenty (20) years
of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age sixty five
(65) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service; or the date on which
a member has completed thirty (30) years of service regardless of age. For non-
hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date of this
restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty (60) years and
completed twenty five (25) years of credited service; or the date on which a
participant has reached the age of sixty five (65) years and completed ten (10)
years of credited service. Ms. Eckman has met the non-hazardous duty criteria.
Member Jensen 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 the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as
listed.
Pension Name, Job. Class, & Dept./Div Hire Date Elig. Date
Eric Hermann, Licensed Electrician, Gen Svcs Dept 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Alexander Nadeau, Field Service Rep, Cust Svc Dept 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Scott Adam, Gas Tech I, Gas Systems Department 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Brian Butler, Gas Tech I, Gas Systems Department 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Allen Tucker, Gas Tech I, Gas Systems Department 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Robert Malick, Gas Tech I, Gas Systems Department 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Bradley Hamilton, Eng Cons Insp II, Engineering Dept 08/26/2013 08/26/2013
Sawang Phommaleuth, Rec Leader, Parks and Rec 09/09/2013 09/09/2013
Tara Weber, Recreation Leader, Parks and Rec Dept 09/09/2013 09/09/2013
James Campbell, Police Officer, Police Department 09/09/2013 09/09/2013
William Robinson, Gas Tech I, Gas Systems Dept. 09/09/2013 09/09/2013
Tabatha Anderson, Pol Comm Op Trainee, Police Dept 09/09/2013 09/09/2013
Misty Gettig, Police Comm Op Trainee, Police Dept 09/09/2013 09/09/2013
Nick Hesterman, Engineering Tech, Engineering Dept 09/23/2013 09/23/2013
Jeanne Blaettner, Accounting Clerk, Finance Dept 09/23/2013 09/23/2013
Anna Gurney, Public Information Coord, Parks and Rec 09/23/2013 09/23/2013
Member Renfroe moved to approve Item 5.1. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
6. Pending/New Business
6.1 Approve revisions to final version of Pension Advisory Committee Policies and
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Procedures Manual
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed final revisions: 1) Section 4's
reference to preexisting conditions excludes Hazardous Duty personnel and 2)
Administrative Rules related to public input amended for consistency with City Council
and City board meeting procedures.
Member Jensen moved to approve Item 6.1. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
7. Director's Reports
Mr. Roseto reported the hearing for Kris Wise's job- connected - disability pension
application is scheduled for November 14, 2013.
Mr. Roseto said a limited number of attorneys specialize in public sector pensions. The
Attorney for the Committee was unable to retain a west coast based advocate to
represent the Plan regarding Linda Leaghty's disability pension application; the law firm
of Christiansen & Dehner declared a conflict of interest. The Attorney for the Committee
recommended the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) again retain the law firm of
Sugarman and Susskind in Coral Gables as Plan advocate. The PAC can discuss this
issue with Attorney Stuart Kaufman at the November 14, 2013 meeting. In response to
a question, Mr. Roseto said at a hearing, the PAC will determine if Ms. Leaghty qualifies
for a disability pension and if that pension is job- connected.
Member Gibson moved to retain the law firm of Sugarman and Susskind in Coral
Gables as Plan advocate for Linda Leaghty's disability pension application. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
8. Commitee Members to be Heard: None.
9. Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
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