09/10/2015 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2015
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 10, 2015
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2015
Roll Call
Present 6 - Vice Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member Bill Jonson, Committee
Member Doreen Hock-DiPolito, Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton,
Committee Member Laura Damico, Committee Member Greg Newland
Absent 1 - Chair Nathan Hightower
Also Present Joe Roseto — Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board
Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of August 13, 2015 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Hamilton moved to approve minutes of August 13, 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, & Department/Division Pension Eligible Date
Laura Del Valle, Graphics Designer, Public Communications Dept 8/10/2015
Ryan Carrington, Fire Medic, Fire Department 8/10/2015
James Parks, Fire Medic, Fire Department 8/10/2015
David Sellman, Fire Medic, Fire Department 8/10/2015
Paul Sudduth, Fire Medic, Fire Department 8/10/2015
Joshua True, Fire Medic, Fire Department 8/10/2015
Carlos Pellitero, Fire Medic, Fire Department 8/10/2015
Cherise Wehinger, Personnel/Payroll Tech, Parks and Recreation Dept 8/10/2015
Ramon Pires, Recreation Leader, Parks and Recreation Department 8/10/2015**
Robert Diehl, Fleet Mechanic, General Services Department 8/10/2015
Clarence Yancey, Police Property Clerk, Police Department 8/10/2015
Sean Deeran, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste Dept 8/10/2015
Roxana Grinov, Librarian I, Library Department 8/23/2015 ***
Tabitha Green, Library Assistant, Library Department 8/24/2015 ****
Brandon Mize, Parks Service Tech, Parks and Recreation Dept 8/24/2015 *****
Schnyyder Louis, Recreation Leader, Parks and Recreation Dept 8/24/2015 ******
Angel Gonzalez-Pagan, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering Dept 8/24/2015
Bryson Church, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Department 8/24/2015 *******
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2015
* Laura Del Valle was employed in a temporary position from 1/26/2015 to 8/09/2015. She
transferred to a full time position effective 8/10/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of
8/10/2015.
** Ramon Pires was employed in a temporary position from 5/16/2015 to 8/08/2015. He was hired
into a full time position effective 8/10/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of 8/10/2015.
*** Roxana Grinov was employed in a temporary position from 1/13/2014 to 8/22/2015. She
transferred to a full time position effective 8/23/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of
8/23/2015.
**** Tabitha Green was employed in a part time position from 1/27/2014 to 8/23/2015. She
transferred to a full time position effective 8/24/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of
8/24/2015.
***** Brandon Mize was employed in a temporary position from 6/08/2015 to 8/23/2015. He
transferred to a full time position effective 8/24/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of
8/24/2015.
****** Schnyyder Louis was employed in a temporary position from 5/30/2015 to 8/22/2015. He
was hired into a full time position effective 8/24/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of
8/24/2015.
******* Bryson Church was employed in a temporary position from 7/13/2015 to 8/23/2015. He was
hired into a full time position effective 8/24/2015, and will be eligible for pension as of 8/24/2015.
Member Jonson 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 employees Roger Duncan, Marine
and Aviation Department, and Joseph Falcone, Police Department, for a regular
pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Roger Duncan, Tradesworker, Marine and Aviation Department, was employed
by the City on May 18, 1987, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective October 1, 2015. Based on an average salary of
approximately $49,767.33 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Mr. Duncan's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $37,350.12 annually.
Joseph Falcone, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the City
on February 6, 1995, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective October 1, 2015. Based on an average salary of
approximately $91,407.57 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Mr. Falcone's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $50,873.04 annually.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2015
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. Mr. Duncan 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. Falcone has met the
hazardous duty criteria.
Member Damico moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Roger Duncan, Marine and Aviation Department,
and Joseph Falcone, Police 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.
4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of employee Linda Treuhaft, Legal
Department, to vest her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees'
Pension Plan.
Linda Treuhaft, Paralegal, Legal Department, was employed by the City on
May 11, 1998 and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Ms.
Treuhaft terminated from City employment on September 5, 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)
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2015
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. Treuhaft
will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in May
2017.
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.
Member Damico moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employee Linda Treuhaft, Legal Department, to vest her
pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension
Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.4 Review and action on request from survivor/beneficiary of Eric Hermann for a
job-connected disability pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said while on the job, Eric Hermann
experienced an injury that resulted in his death, Mr. Hermann was 56 years old. The
City hired Mr. Hermann in 2013 as an electrician for General Services/Solid Waste.
The Police investigation awaited toxicology and autopsy results and issuance of
a final death certificate. Risk Management determined that Mr. Hermann was
electrocuted and his death occurred in the line of duty.
Mr. Roseto reviewed the Code re computation of a death benefit. The Pension
Plan's attorney was comfortable that Code criteria had been met and the Committee
had sufficient documentation to make a decision. Nothing indicated the existence of
exclusions.
In response to questions, Mr. Roseto said Human Resources, Risk Management,
and the Police Department agreed that electrocution caused the casualty. He did not
anticipate any exclusion would be relevant. If the final report determines an
exclusion existed, the case would return to the Committee for reevaluation and
possibly a formal hearing, which could take several months. The Committee was
under no obligation to make a decision before the final report was issued, however
the survivor would not receive a benefit until final action was taken, the Code did not
provide a retroactive benefit. Should the Committee later determine that the death
benefit should not have been provided, the City could not recoup the back benefit
and Mr. Hermann's widow would receive no compensation except for Mr. Hermann's
contribution to the Pension Plan plus 5%. The toxicology report would not be
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes September 10, 2015
available for 6 to 8 weeks. Nothing in Mr. Hermann's file indicated disqualifying
behavior.
Discussion ensued with support expressed for approving the death benefit today so
that the family would not be short changed, the benefit was nominal, and the benefit
could not be retroactive.
Member Hamilton moved to accept into evidence the entire file,
inclusive of the personnel file, the Police report, and Risk Management
items. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
It was stated the final report should be distributed to Committee members and
included in this file of evidence.
Member Hamilton moved to approve the request from
survivor /beneficiary of Eric Hermann for a job - related disability
pension as requirements were met; Mr. Hermann died by reason of
an injury he suffered in the line of duty. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
5. Director's Report: None
6. Committee Members to be Heard
7. Adjourn
Committee members were encouraged to attend the FPPTA (Florida Public Pension
Trustees Association) Fall Trustees School in Naples, October 4 — 7, 2015.
Member Damico recommended the next Pension Plan revision provide the same
66 2/3% disability pension benefit to all City employees as general staff also work in
dangerous conditions, including gas technicians, electricians, etc., especially when
death results from an on-the-job injury. Mr. Roseto reviewed the process necessary
to amend the Pension Plan.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
City of Clearwater
ry)
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
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