10/08/2015 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 8, 2015
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 8, 2015
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 8, 2015
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Tom Jensen, Committee
Member Bill Jonson, Committee Member Doreen Hock-DiPolito,
Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton, Board Member Laura Damico,
and Board Member Greg Newland
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. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of September 10, 2015 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Damico moved to approve minutes of September 10, 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.
Pension Name, Job. Class, & Dept./Div. Elig. Date
Kevin Poole, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste Dept 7/27/2015*
Renardo Lowe, Parks Service Technician I, Parks and Recreation Dept. 9/08/2015
Mario Zaccaria, Building Construct Insp, Planning and Development Dept. 9/08/2015
Torey Castleberry, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Department 9/08/2015
Terry Clemons, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Department 9/08/2015
Walter Ramos Mendez, Fire Inspector II, Fire Department 9/08/2015
Wilton Hill, Senior Systems Programmer, Information Technology Dept. 9/08/2015
*Kevin Poole was previously employed with the City of Clearwater from 8/18/2008 through
4/7/2015. He was rehired effective 7/27/2015 and will be eligible for pension as of 7/27/2015.
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 employees Douglas Munson, Police
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Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 8, 2015
Department and James Pyatt, Police Department, to vest their pensions as provided
by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Douglas Munson, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
City on April 28, 1997, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that
date. Mr. Munson terminated from City employment on September 23, 2015.
James Pyatt, Police Communications Operator, Police Department, was
employed by the City on August 6, 1990 and began participating in the Pension Plan
on that date. Mr. Pyatt terminated from City employment on September 26, 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. Mr. Pyatt will
meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in
September 2020.
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.
Munson will meet the hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pension in
May 2017.
Member Damico moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Douglas Munson, Police Department and
James Pyatt, Police 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 October 8, 2015
4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Nicholas Brems, Police
Department; Donald Davis, Information Technology; Carolynn Duncan, Library
Department; Michael Holmes, Housing and Economic Development Department;
Brenda McLaughlin, Police Department; Victor Myerscough, Solid Waste General
Services Department; for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424
of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Nicholas Brems, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
City on March 25, 1991, 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 $76,403.52 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Mr. Brems' selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $50,182.80 annually.
Donald Davis, Senior Network Analyst, Information Technology Department,
was employed by the City on September 16, 1985, 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 $60,391.44 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Davis' selection of the Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $49,892.16 annually.
Carolynn Duncan, Library Assistant, Library Department, was employed by
the City on December 6, 1989, and her pension service credit is effective on
that date. Her pension will be effective October 1, 2015. Based on an average
salary of approximately $35,369.21 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Ms. Duncan's selection of the 66 2/3% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $23,644.56 annually.
Michael Holmes, Housing Manager, Housing and Economic Development
Department, was employed by the City on January 7, 1985, 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 $72,117.01 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Holmes' selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$53,868.60 annually.
Brenda McLaughlin, Police Communications Operator, Police Department, was
employed by the City on December 25, 1995, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective January 1, 2016. Based on an
average salary of approximately $50.808.67 over the past five years, the formula
for computing regular pensions and Ms. McLaughlin's selection of the 100% Joint
and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $26,727.72 annually.
Victor Myerscough, Fleet Mechanic Supervisor, Solid Waste General
Services Department, was employed by the City on July 23, 1990, and his
pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective October
17 2015. Based on an average salary of approximately $59,626.34 over the past
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Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 8, 2015
five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Myerscough's
selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $38,993.88 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. Mr. Davis,
Ms. Duncan, Mr. Holmes, Ms. McLaughlin, and Mr. Myerscough 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. Brems has met the hazardous duty
criteria.
Member Jensen moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Nicholas Brems, Police Department; Donald
Davis, Information Technology; Carolynn Duncan, Library
Department; Michael Holmes, Housing and Economic Development
Department; Brenda McLaughlin, Police Department; Victor
Myerscough, Solid Waste General Services 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.
4.4 Informal hearing for Matthew Anderson for job-connected disability pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said Matthew Anderson was a
Police Officer and he applied for a job-connected disability pension.
Medical documentation indicated that Mr. Anderson was disabled, the
IME (Independent Medical Exam) opined that the disability was not
job-connected. Mr. Anderson retained an attorney.
Mr. Roseto reviewed Pension Plan disability hearing procedures. Two
members did not receive background information until today.
It was felt it would be premature to take any action today as two
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes October 8, 2015
members had not had an opportunity to review the file and Mr.
Anderson's attorney was not present. Discussion ensued regarding
hearing procedures. Concern was expressed that a continuance would
delay a final decision.
Member DiPolito moved to continue the informal hearing for
Matthew Anderson's application for a job- connected disability
pension to November 12, 2015. The motion was duly seconded.
Members Jensen, Hock DiPolito, Hamilton, Damico, and Newland,
and Chair Hightower voted "Aye "; Member Jonson voted "Nay."
Motion carried.
5. Director's Report: None.
6. Committee Members to be Heard
Member Jensen encouraged Committee Members to engage in training
opportunities. He noted State Statutes required members to take annual
education classes.
Members who attended recent FPPTA (Florida Public Pension Trustees
Association) training said their classes were worthwhile.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
Attest:
ORLS Coordinate
City of Clearwater
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Chair
Pension Advisory Committee