03/12/2015 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2015
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 12, 2015
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
Page 1 City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2015
Roll Call
Present: Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice-Chair Daniel Slaughter, Committee Member Tom Jensen,
Committee Member/Councilmember Bill Jonson, Committee Member/Councilmember Doreen
Hock-DiPolito, Committee Member/Councilmember Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member Laura
Damico
Also present: Joe Roseto — Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of February 12, 2015 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Jensen moved to approve minutes of February 12, 2015
Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in written
summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Recommend approval of the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Joseph Contreras, Recreation Leader, Parks and Recreation Department 1/26/2015
Natalie Lamb, Recreation Specialist Parks and Recreation Department 1/26/2015
Erin Marks, Librarian I, Library Department 1/26/2015
Mark Smith, Stormwater Technician, Engineering Department 1/26/2015
Kyle Aldrich, Parking Technician, Engineering Department 2/9/2015*
Brandon Fletcher, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Department 2/9/2015**
Kyle Harter, Water Plant Operator C, Public Utilities Department 2/9/2015
Belinda Nichol, Customer Service Representative, Customer Svc. Dept. 2/9/2015
Kristen Parete, Legal Staff Assistant, Legal Department 2/2/2015
Brandi Portalatin, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Department 2/9/2015***
Linda Rothstein, Librarian III, Library Department 2/9/2015
John Toston, Parks Service Technician I, Parks and Recreation Dept. 2/9/2015
Jonathan Hurt, Police Cadet, Police Department 2/21/2015
Erik Jordan, Water Plant Operator Trainee, Public Utilities Department 2/23/2015
Scot MacDonald, Radio Manager, General Services Department 2/23/2015
* Kyle Aldrich was hired into a part time position on 05/6/2013, and transferred to a
full-time permanent position as of 2/9/2015; he will be eligible for pension as of
2/9/2015.
** Brandon Fletcher was hired into a temporary position on 11/17/14, and transferred to a
Page 2 City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2015
full-time permanent position as of 2/9/2015; he will be eligible for pension as of 2/9/2015.
*** Brandi Portalatin was previously employed with the City of Clearwater, resigned
effective 08/14/2014, rescinded resignation and was rehired 2/9/2015; she will be
eligible for pension as of 2/9/2015.
Member Jensen moved to recommend approval of the new hires for
acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4.2 Recommend approval of the following request of Karen Maldonado, Engineering
Department, to vest her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees'
Pension Plan.
Karen Maldonado, Construction Office Specialist, Engineering Department, was
employed by the City on June 5, 2004 and began participating in the Pension Plan on
that date. Ms. Maldonado terminated from City employment on February 21, 2015.
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. Ms. Maldonado will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in March 2031.
Member Hamilton moved to recommend approval of the following
request of Karen Maldonado, Engineering Department, to vest her
pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension
Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Etheridge Hall, Police
Department; Marianna Mallon, Police Department; and Leonard Rickard, Fire
Department; for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Etheridge Hall, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the City on
Page 3 City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2015
April 5, 1993, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be
effective April 1, 2015. Based on an average salary of approximately $91,217.61 over
the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Hall's selection
of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $58,583.28
annually.
Marianna Mallon, Police Service Technician, Police Department, was employed by
the City on June 13, 1984, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her
pension will be effective March 1, 2015. Based on an average salary of approximately
$52,568.79 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and
Ms. Mallon's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $44,389.20 annually.
Leonard Rickard, Assistant Fire Marshal, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on July 25, 2005, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective August 1, 2015. Based on an average salary of approximately
$71,913.72 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr.
Rickard's selection of the 75% Joint and Survivor Annuity with a 30% partial lump sum
distribution, this pension benefit will be approximately $13,892.28 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. Ms. Mallon has 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. Hall and Mr. Rickard have met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Slaughter recommended approval of the following request
of employees Etheridge Hall, Police Department; Marianna Mallon,
Police Department; and Leonard Rickard, Fire Department; for a
regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
6. Director's Report: None.
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Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes March 12, 2015
7. Committee Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
In response to a question, Finance Director Jay Ravins discussed
proposed State legislation that would require the City to adopt mortality
tables that are less conservative than those currently used. The City
opposed the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the proposal.
Member Hock - DiPolito requested an update from the City's Tallahassee
lobbyist.
Member Slaughter congratulated retirees Etheridge Hall, Marianna
Mallon, and Leonard Rickard and wished them well.
The meeting adjourned at 9:11 a.
Board Report
GI
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
Page 5 City of Clearwater