12/12/2013 PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
December 12, 2013
Present: Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice-Chair Daniel Slaughter, Committee Member
Tom Jensen, Committee Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee Member/
Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member Clyde Renfroe.
Absent: 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. at City Hall.
2. Employees/Citizens to be Heard: None.
3. Approval of Minutes
3.1 Approve minutes of November 14, 2013 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting
as submitted in written summation.
Member Jonson 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 employees Thomas Donnelly,
Police Department; Mark Hannah, Solid Waste and General Services
Department; Michael Salopek, Public Utilities Department; Victor Anglero, Solid
Waste and General Services Department; Geraldo Cruz, Fire Department; and
Catherine Yellin, Marine and Aviation Department for a regular pension as
Provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Thomas Donnelly, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the
City on May 23, 1990 and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective February 1, 2014. Based on an average salary of
approximately $94,797.35 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Donnelly's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $60,564.24 annually.
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Mark Hannah, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste and General
Services Department, was employed by the City on November 29, 1993 and his
pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective on
February 1, 2014. Based on an average salary of approximately $44,853.63
over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr.
Hannah's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $24,885.36 annually.
Michael Salopek, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities Department, was employed
by the City on December 30, 1983 and his pension service credit is effective on
that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2014. Based on an average
salary of approximately $54,203.35 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Salopek's selection of the Single Life
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $44,763.36 annually.
Victor Anglero, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste and General Services
Department, was employed by the City on October 13, 1986 and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective December 1,
2013. Based on an average salary of approximately $36,094.33 over the past
five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Anglero's
selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity and a 10% Lump Sum
Distribution, this pension benefit will be approximately $22,961.52 annually.
Geraldo Cruz, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the City on
July 29, 1991 and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective February 1, 2014. Based on an average salary of
approximately $79,489.23 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Cruz's selection of the Single Life Annuity and a 30%
Lump Sum Distribution, this pension will be approximately $34,581.24 annually.
Catherine Yellin, Administrative Analyst, Marine and Aviation Department, was
employed by the City on November 11, 1989 and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective February 1, 2014. Based on
an average salary of approximately $45,514.68 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Yellin's selection of the 100%
Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension will be approximately $29,249.88
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
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
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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. Messrs. Hannah, Salopek, and Anglero and Ms. Yellin
have met the non-hazardous duty criteria.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty
employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which the participant has completed twenty (20) years of credited
service regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty
five (55) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service. Messrs.
Donnelly and Cruz meet the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Slaughter moved to approved 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 Debbie Shires of the Public
Utilities Department to vest her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Debbie Shires, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator C, Public Utilities
Department, was employed by the City on October 22, 2001, and began
participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Ms. Shires terminated from City
employment on October 26, 2013.
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 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty
employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (1/1/13), a
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-
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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.
Shires will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in
November 2021.
Member Renfroe 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, & Dept./Div Hire Date Elig. Date
Jordan Andrews, Cust. Svc. Field Svc. Rep, Cust. Svc. Dept. 10/21/13 10/21/13
Brittany Pierce, Beach Lifeguard, Parks and Rec. Dept. 11/03/13 11/03/13
Khang Nguyen, Engineering Specialist I, Engineering Dept. 11/04/13 11/04/13
Amber Rose, Waste Water Tmt. Plant Op. B, Pub Util. Dept. 11/04/13 11/04/13
Douglas Ball, Equipment Operator, Parks and Rec. Dept. 11/04/13 11/04/13
Jahron Jackson, Recreation Leader, Parks and Rec. Dept. 11/04/13 11/04/13
Robert Garrett, Survey Assistant I, Engineering Department 11/18/13 11/18/13
Regina Novak, Wellness Specialist, Parks and Rec. Dept. 11/18/13 11/18/13
Carissa Dennison, Utilities Chemist, Public Utilities Dept. 11/18/13 11/18/13
Anthony Oliva, Fleet Mechanic, General Services Dept. 11/18/13 11/18/13
Member Slaughter moved to approve Item 6.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
7. Director's Reports
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said the formal disability hearing for Kris Wise is
scheduled for January 9, 2014.
In response to questions, Mr. Roseto said Pension Plan updates did not alter the
calculation method for hazardous employee disability benefits. The City has not
received feedback on its request for an IME (Independent Medical Exam) evaluation re
Linda Leaghty. The Plan's attorney continues to review the case.
8. Committee Members to be Heard
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Member Slaughter said retiring Police Sergeant Thomas Donnelly was one of the
department's most decorated officers and his absence will be felt.
Committee Members wished Happy Holidays to all.
9. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:08 a.m.
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
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