03/13/2000
TRUSTEES OF THE EMPLOYEES' PENSION FUND MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 13, 2000
Present: Brian J. Aungst Chair
Ed Hooper Vice-Chair/Trustee
J. B. Johnson Trustee
Robert Clark Trustee
Ed Hart Trustee
Also present: Bill Horne Assistant City Manager
Bob Keller Assistant City Manager
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
Absent: Michael J. Roberto City Manager
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:07 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes:
Trustee Hooper moved to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2000, meeting, as
motion
recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The
carried
was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Request for Acceptance into Membership:
The Assistant City Manager presented the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
Committee to approve membership for the employee(s) listed below:
Gail Beall, David Weitzel, Leo Mazzullo, Virginia Schulz, Milisa Schnatterer, Michael
Fitzgerald, Cynthia Kibby, Rodney Hoskins, Kim Farrell, Amy White, & Rafael Navarro
Trustee Clark moved to accept the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
motioncarried
Committee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #4 - Request for Pension:
The Assistant City Manager presented the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
John T. Neenan & David B. Bennettregular pensions
Committee that be granted under
Section(s) 2.393 and 2.397 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
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John T. Neenan was employed on September 10, 1968, and his pension service credit
is effective on that date. His pension will be effective April 1, 2000.
Based on an average salary of approximately $55,970 per year over the past 5 years,
the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr. Neenan's selection of the 100% Joint &
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $47,399 annually.
David B. Bennett was employed on January 7, 1980, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2000.
Based on an average salary of approximately $42,294 per year over the past 5 years,
the formula for computing regular pensions, and Mr. Bennett's selection of the 100% Joint &
Survivor Annuity, this pension will approximate $22,958 annually.
The PAC approved these pensions on February 10, 2000. Section 2.393 (p) provides
for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has reached age 55 and completed 20 years
of credited service or has completed 30 years of credited service. Mr. Neenan qualifies under
both criteria. Section 2.393 (p) also provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant
has completed 20 years of credited service in a type of employment described as “hazardous
duty” and further specifically defines service as a Firefighter/Driver Operator as meeting the
hazardous duty criteria. Mr. Bennett qualifies under the hazardous duty criteria.
Trustee Johnson moved to accept the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
motioncarried
Committee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Request to Vest Pension:
The Assistant City Manager presented the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
Louis R. Hilton, Freddie Cantrell, Jr., & Jose Reid vest their
Committee that be allowed to
pensions
under Section(s) 2.397 and 2.398 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Louis R. Hilton was employed on February 7, 1983, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date.
Freddie Cantrell, Jr. was employed on October 6, 1980, and his pension service credit
is effective on that date.
Jose A. Reid was employed on November 16, 1988, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date.
The Employees' Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an
employee of the City of Clearwater after completing 10 or more years of creditable service
(pension participation), then 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.
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Section 2.393 provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has reached
age 55 and completed 20 years of credited service or has completed 30 years of credited
service. Section 2.393 also provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has
completed 20 years of credited service in a type of employment described as “hazardous duty”
and further specifically defines service as a Police Officer as meeting the hazardous duty
criteria
Mr. Hilton would have completed at least 20 years of service and reached age 55 on
May 15, 2007. His pension will be effective June 1, 2007. Mr. Cantrell would have completed
30 years of service on October 6, 2010. His pension will be effective November 1, 2010. Mr.
Reid would have completed 20 years of service as a Police Officer on November 16, 2008.
His pension will be effective on December 1, 2008. The PAC approved these requests on
February 10, 2000.
Trustee Hooper moved to accept the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
motioncarried
Committee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #6 - Request to buy back previous pension service credit:
Darold Brink
The Assistant City Manager presented the recommendation that be allow
to buy back his previous pension service credit as approved by the Pension Advisory
Committee.
Darold Brink was originally employed as a permanent part-time Marine Attendant II in
the Marine Department on June 8, 1983. Although he was classified as a permanent part-time
employee, it has since been determined that Mr. Brink was working the equivalent hours of a
full-time employee. On November 19, 1984, Mr. Brink's status was changed to full-time and he
became eligible for pension participation as of that date. During the period of time that Mr.
Brink was classified as part-time, he was ineligible to participate in the City of Clearwater
Employees' Pension Plan. If he had been allowed to participate from his date of hire, the
amount he would have contributed to the Plan from June 8, 1983, through November 18,
1984, would have been $1,584.94.
Mr. Brink is now requesting he be allowed to receive service credit for this 17-month
period. At the PAC's meeting on November 9, 1999, the Committee approved the buy back of
this pension service with Mr. Brink paying 5% interest per year. This matter was brought
before the Trustees on December 6, 1999, and continued at the request of the Human
Resources Department to allow Lee Dehner, the City's pension attorney, to render a legal
opinion on this matter. If was brought before the PAC again on February 10, 2000, after
receipt of the opinion. Based on Mr. Dehner's opinion that Mr. Brink should be permitted to
purchase creditable service, the PAC again approved Mr. Brink's request. Should the Trustees
approve this request, the amount owed by Mr. Brink as of March 13, 2000, will be $3,452.70
($1,584.94 principal and interest at 5%).
Trustee Johnson moved to allow Darold Brink to buy back his previous pension service
motion
credit as approved by the Pension Advisory Committee. The was duly seconded and
carried
unanimously.
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ITEM #7 - Other Business – None.
ITEM #8 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:08 p.m.
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