05/08/2014 PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 8, 2014
Present: Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member Tom Jensen, Committee
Member/Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member/Councilmember Doreen
Hock-DiPolito, Committee Member Bill Renfroe, Committee Member/Councilmember
Hoyt Hamilton
Absent: Vice-Chair Daniel Slaughter
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 April 10, 2014 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 John Coombs, Gas
Department, Vincent Mohr, Police Department, Allen Stidham, Parks and
Recreation Department, and Robert Tellone, Fire Department, for a regular
pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees Pension
Plan.
John Coombs, Gas Technician II, Gas Department, was employed by the City on
December 13, 1993 and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective June 1, 2014. Based on an average salary of
approximately $45,963.69 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Coomb's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $24,180 annually.
Vincent Mohr, Communications Supervisor, Police Department, was employed
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by the City on October 12, 1987 and his pension service credit is effective on
that date. His pension will be effective on August 1, 2014. Based on an average
salary of approximately $56,871.99 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Mohr's selection of the 10 Year Certain and
Life Annuity with a 30% Lump Sum Distribution, this pension benefit will be
approximately $28,992.36 annually.
Allen Stidham, Parks Service Supervisor I, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on November 4, 1991 and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective June 1, 2014. Based on an
average salary of approximately $48,762.39 over the past five years, the formula
for computing regular pensions and Mr. Stidham's selection of the 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $31,800.48 annually.
Robert S. Tellone, Fire Medic Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on September 28, 1987 and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective May 1, 2014. Based on an average salary of
approximately $97,540.73 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Tellone's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $75,387.84 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 fifty-five (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. Coombs, Mohr, and Stidham 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. Mr. Tellone has
met the hazardous duty criteria.
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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 employees James Keller, Fire
Department, Oliver Matthews, Solid Waste and General Services Department
and Marco Ortega, Parks and Recreation Department, to vest their pensions as
Provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees Pension Plan.
James Keller, Fire Inspector II, Fire Department, was employed by the City on
March 22, 2004, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Mr.
Keller terminated from City employment on April 19, 2014.
Oliver Matthews, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste and General Services
Department, was employed by the City on June 27, 1994 and began
participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Oliver terminated from City
employment on April 5, 2014.
Marco Ortega, Heavy Equipment Operator, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on September 12, 1998 and began participating in the
Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Ortega terminated from City employment on April
17, 2014.
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 fifty-five (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. Matthews and Ortega will meet the non-
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hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pensions in July 2014 and October
2018, respectively.
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. Keller will
meet the hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pension in August 2015.
Member Hamilton 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 Eligibility Date
John Devore, Stormwater Technician I, Public Utilities Department 04/07/2014
David Morris, Wastewater Operator Trainee, Public Utilities Dept 04/07/2014
Jason Flathman, Custodian, Police Department 04/21/2014
Michael Scanlon, Equipment Operator, Parks and Recreation Dept 04/21/2014
Stephen Cross, Electronics Technician, Public Utilities Department 04/21/2014
John Chadwick, Waste Water Trtmt Plant Op Trainee, Pub Util Dept 04/21/2014
John Phipps, Waste Wtr Trtmt Plant Op Trainee, Public Utilities Dept 04/21/2014
Erik Barber, Stormwater Technician I, Public Utilities Department 04/21/2014
Kevin Muscarella, Waste Wtr Trtmt Plant Op Trainee, Pub Util Dept 04/21/2014
David Lawrence, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Dept 04/21/2014
Ryan Bessler, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department 04/21/2014
Andrew Eddinger, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Dept 04/21/2014
Michael Billian, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department 04/21/2014*
Michael Jaso, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department 04/21/2014
Simeon Johnson, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Dept 04/21/2014
Victoria Martin, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department 04/21/2014
Collin Ettienne, Firefighter, Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department 04/21/2014
*Mr. Billian is transferring from a non-hazardous duty position to a hazardous
duty position. He originally was hired in the Fleet/General Services Department
on 3/17/2008 and was approved to be in the pension plan at that time, but now
will need to meet the hazardous duty criteria in order to retire from the City under
hazardous eligibility requirements.
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Member Renfroe moved to approve Item 6.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
7. Pending/New Business
7.1 PAC Procedures and the Pension Ordinance state that the board shall annually
elect members to serve as Chair and Vice Chair.
Member Hamilton moved to reappoint Nathan Hightower as Chair. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Renfroe moved to reappoint Daniel Slaughter as Vice-Chair. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
7.2 Set hearing date for Jeff Gifford for non-mob-connected disability pension.
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed Jeff Gifford's application for a non-job-
connected disability pension and requirements of the Code. None of the listed
exclusions applied. There was no meaningful work available for him and no expectation
that Mr. Gifford would return to work from his extended absence. The IME (Independent
Medical Exam) determined that Mr. Gifford was totally and permanently disabled. The
City did not contest the application, which met all criteria of the Code.
Member Jensen 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 Hamilton moved that Jeff Gifford was eligible for a disability pension as he was
disabled due to a non-job-connected 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 Mr. Gifford unable to perform any useful,
meaningful, and necessary work for the employer in an available position for which the
participant was reasonably qualified or for which the participant could be reasonably
trained to perform. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
The Committee extended their appreciation to Mr. Gifford for his service to the City and
wished him well.
7.3 Formal hearing for Linda Leaghty for non-mob-connected disability pension
Mr. Roseto reported Linda Leaghty had retained an attorney; the Plan's advocate and
her attorney were conferring and not yet prepared for the hearing. The earliest the case
could be scheduled was July.
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Concerns were expressed that hand - written documents from Joseph C. Shanklin M.D.
were unreadable and details at the bottom of some pages were missing. Mr. Roseto
said staff had requested legible replacement copies.
8. Director's Reports
Mr. Roseto reported the IME had not submitted his reevaluation of additional
information provided him re Kris Wise's application for a job- connected disability.
Consensus was that hearings for disability applications by Ms. Leaghty and Mr. Wise
could be scheduled for the same meeting to expedite their cases.
It was noted several members could not attend the July 10, 2014 meeting.
Member Hamilton moved to reschedule the July Pension Advisory Committee meeting
to July 8, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
9. Committee Members to be Heard: None
10. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m.
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
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