02/13/2014 PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 13, 2014
Present: Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice-Chair Daniel Slaughter, Committee Member
Tom Jensen, Committee Member/Councilmember Paul Gibson, Committee Member/
Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member/Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito,
Committee Member Clyde Renfroe.
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. Employees/Citizens to be Heard: None.
3. Approval of Minutes
3.1 Approve minutes of January 9, 2014 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Jonson moved to approved 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 Scott Bennett, Solid
Waste and General Services Department; Donald Bowen, Public Utilities
Department; and Christopher Hunter, Engineering Department; for a regular
pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees Pension
Plan.
Scott Bennett, Licensed Electrician, Solid Waste and General Services
Department, was employed by the City on November 19, 1984 and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective April 1, 2014.
Based on an average salary of approximately $56,096.59 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Bennett's selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$39,834.60 annually.
Donald Bowen, Water Distribution Operator, Public Utilities Department, was
employed by the City on March 31, 1986 and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective on February 1, 2014. Based
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on an average salary of approximately $42,123.08 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions, Mr. Bowen's selection of the 100% Joint
and Survivor Annuity and a 30% lump sum distribution, this pension benefit will
be approximately $21,877.20 annually.
Christopher Hunter, Stormwater Technician III, Engineering Department, was
employed by the City on September 9, 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 $52,338.52 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Hunter's selection of the Single
Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $32,232.60 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
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. Bennett, Bowen and Hunter have met the non-
hazardous duty criteria.
Member Slaughter 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 employees Pasquale Calabrese, Police
Department and Peggy Franco, Planning and Development Services
Department, to vest their pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the
Employees Pension Plan.
Pasquale Calabrese, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
City on May 20, 2003, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date.
Mr. Calabrese terminated from City employment on August 20, 2013.
Peggy Franco, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning and Development
Services Department, was employed by the City on February 25, 2002 and
began participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Ms. Franco terminated from
City employment on January 29, 2014.
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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-
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. Franco will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria
and begin collecting a pension in March 2032.
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. Mr. Calabrese
will meet the hazardous duty criteria and be eligible for a normal retirement in
April 2019.
In response to a question, Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said a criminal felony
conviction would result in pension forfeiture.
Member Jensen moved to approve Item 5. 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
Stephanie Stutz, Legal Staff Assistant, Legal Dept. 1/13/2014 1/13/2014
Ashley Adams, Cust. Svc Acct Rep, Marine and Av Dept. 1/22/2014 1/22/2014
Matthew Mosier, Water Dist Op Trainee, Public Util Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
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Tracy Weaver, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Adam Wall, Police Officer, Police Department 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Richard Edmonds, Police Officer, Police Department 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Francisco Micheo, Police Officer, Police Department 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Adrian P. Washington, Police Officer, Police Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Calvin Strong, Police Property Clerk, Police Department 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Valerie Mathre, Librarian I, Library Department 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
James Alton, Parks Service Tech I, Parks and Rec Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Jeffrey Knight, Parks Service Tech I, Parks and Rec Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Alessandra Scorcioni, Cust Sery Coord, Cust Service Dept1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Michael Bird, Parks Service Tech I, Parks and Rec Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
Wesley Grat, Water Dist. Op Trainee, Public Util Dept 1/27/2014 1/27/2014
James Copechal, Equipment Operator, Parks Rec Dept 1/28/2014 1/28/2014
Member Renfroe moved to approve Item 6.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
7. Pending/New Business
7.1 Hearing date for Beverly Ice for Non-Job-Connected Disability Pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed Beverly Ice's application for a non job-
connected disability pension and the requirements of Code. None of the listed
exclusions applied. The City had no available position for Ms. Ice. Her file was
distributed to committee members.
Member Jonson 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.
Mr. Roseto said the IME determined that Ms. Ice was totally and permanently disabled.
The City would not contest the application.
It was stated that Ms. Ice was an excellent employee who worked hard and regret was
expressed that she had to retire.
Member Gibson moved that Beverly Ice was eligible for a disability pension as she was
disabled due to a sickness or injury, such disability was likely to be continuous and
permanent from a cause other than those listed as general disability exclusions, and
such disability rendered the participant unable to perform any useful, meaningful, and
necessary work for the employer in an available position for which the participant was
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reasonably qualified or for which the participant could be reasonably trained to perform.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Ms. Ice was thanked for her valuable service to the City and was offered best wishes.
Ms. Ice said she was sorry she no longer could serve the City.
8. Director's Reports
Mr. Roseto recommended that the Committee schedule a discussion with the Pension
Attorney re Linda Leaghty's application for a non job- connected disability pension.
Member Jensen moved to schedule a discussion with the Attorney for the Committee re
Linda Leaghty's application for a non job- connected disability pension. The motion was
duly seconded.
Mr. Roseto said Ms. Leaghty's disability may have existed prior to her employment with
the City. He said Ms. Leaghty cannot afford an attorney and the City wants to be certain
she is provided her due process.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Roseto reported that Mr. Hightower's term on the committee expires in March.
Member Gibson moved to reappoint Nathan Hightower to the Pension Advisory
Committee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
9. Commitee Members to be Heard
Members offered Valentine Day greetings.
10. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:17 a.m.
Attest
i
oard Re
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
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