06/11/2015 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 11, 2015
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 11, 2015
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 11, 2015
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member
Daniel Slaughter, Committee Member Doreen Hock-DiPolito, Committee
Member Bill Jonson, Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton, and
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 9:00 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of May 14, 2015 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted
in written summation.
Member Jensen moved to approve minutes of May 14, 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.
Name, Job. Class, & Dept./Div. Pension Elig. Date
Joshua Morales, Field Service Representative I, Customer Service Dept. 05/04/2015
Todd Norrie, Field Service Representative I, Customer Service Department 05/04/2015
Justina Vasquez, Recreation Leader I, Parks and Recreation Department 05/16/2015*
Joseph Bujan, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities Department 05/18/2015
Jared Walker, Parks Service Technician I, Parks and Recreation Department 05/18/2015
Alexander Wiser, Parks Service Technician I, Parks and Recreation Dept 05/18/2015
* Justina Vazquez was employed in a temporary position from 5/18/2013 to 11/01/2013, and
then a part time position from 11/02/2013 to 5/15/2015. She transferred to a full time position
effective 5/16/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of 5/16/2015.
Member Hamilton moved to recommend approval of the new hires
for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 11, 2015
4.2 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Karen Sowada, Parks
and Recreation Department and Shawn Taber, Fire Department, to vest their
pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Karen Sowada, Recreation Supervisor II, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on July 1, 2002, and began participating in the Pension
Plan on that date. Ms. Sowada terminated from City employment on April 9, 2015.
Shawn Taber, Fire Medic, Fire Department, was employed by the City on
October 4, 1999 and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Mr.
Taber terminated from City employment on May 16, 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. Sowada will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting
a pension in July 2022.
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. Taber will meet the
hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pension in November 2019.
Member Damico moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Karen Sowada, Parks and Recreation
Department and Shawn Taber, Fire Department, to vest their
pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension
Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 11, 2015
4.3 Informal hearing for James McBride for job-connected disability pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed James McBride's
application for a job-connected disability pension and requirements of
the Code. None of the listed exclusions applied.
Mr. Roseto reported the IME (Independent Medical Exam) determined
that Mr. McBride was totally and permanently disabled from performing
hazardous duties. The City would not contest the application. There was
no expectation that Mr. McBride would return to work.
Consensus was to act on the request.
Member Slaughter 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 Damico moved that James McBride met the requirements for a
job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of an injury
suffered or an illness contracted in the line of duty, such disability is
likely to be continuous and permanent from a cause other than those
listed as general disability exclusions, and he is unable, by reason of a
medically determinable physical or mental impairment, to render useful
and efficient service as a police officer. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
James McBride thanked Clearwater for the opportunity to serve the City
for the last 20 years. He said it had been an honor to represent Clearwater
as part of the international efforts to combat human trafficking.
Members complimented Mr. McBride's efforts, dedication, and the long
hours he spent fighting human trafficking. Mr. McBride had created the
national organization to fight human trafficking on his own time. Members
thanked Mr. McBride for his hard work and said he will be missed.
5. Director's Report
Mr. Roseto said the Pension Advisory Committee election for seats held
by Committee Members Jensen and Slaughter begins June 15, 2015.
6. Committee Members to be Heard
Members thanked Member Slaughter for his service on the Committee,
noting he had been fair, reasonable and asked pointed and direct
questions.
Chair Hightower said he will follow through with his tradition of providing
donuts to departing committee members.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
7. Adjourn
Meeting Minutes June 11, 2015
Member Slaughter said he had learned a great deal by serving on the
Committee and encouraged other employees to serve.
Chair Hightower congratulated Member Hock - DiPolito on her recent
nuptials.
The meeting adjourned at 9:13 a.m.
City of Clearwater
Chair
Pension,; dvisory Committee
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