04/12/2007
PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 12, 2007
Present: Nathan Hightower Chair
Tom Jensen Vice-Chair
John Schmalzbauer Committee Member
Carlen Petersen Committee Member/Councilmember
John Doran Committee Member/Councilmember
Stephen Sarnoff Committee Member
Empty Seat Committee Member/Councilmember
Also Present: Joe Roseto Human Resources Director
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2 - Approval of Minutes
Member Schmalzbauer moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March
motion
8, 2007, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The was duly
carried
seconded and unanimously.
4 – Employees to be Heard – None.
5 – Action Items:
a. Review and Action on Employee Requests for Regular Pensions:
1. Robert J. Caruso, Gas
2. Frank S. Riotto, Marine & Aviation
3. Larry G. Hamrell, Library
Member Schmalzbauer moved to approve the requests for regular pension for Robert J.
motioncarried
Caruso, Frank S. Riotto, and Larry G. Hamrell. The was duly seconded and
unanimously.
b. Review and Action on Employee Request to Vest Pensions
1. Jeffrey A. Patterson, Fire
Jeffrey A. Patterson, Fire, has resigned his position after being employed by the City for
more than 15 years. He will qualify to receive his reduced pension beginning August 1, 2011.
Pension Advisory 2007-04-12 1
Member Petersen moved to approve the request by Jeffrey A. Patterson to vest his
motion carried
pension. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
c. Approval of New Hires as Plan Members:
Member Schmalzbauer moved to accept the following employees into membership in
the Pension Plan:
Pension Eligible
Name, Job Class, & Dept./Div Hire Date Date
Reinaldo Rios, Custodial Worker, Parks & Recreation 02/05/07 02/05/07
Benedetto Mattiace, Parks Service Technician I/Parks & Rec. 02/05/07 02/05/07
Sara Josuns, Environmental Specialist/Engineering 02/05/07 02/05/07
Joe Herrar, Solid Waste Worker/Solid Waste General Services 02/05/07 02/05/07
Sammy Cruz, Field Service Representative I/Cust. Service 03/05/07 03/05/07
John Sadowski, WWTP Operator A/Public Utilities 03/05/07 03/05/07
Wendy Arnold, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Michael Cannarelli, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Travis Connolly, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Patrick Davis, Jr., Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
James Groth, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Jason Haynor, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Andrew Leeth, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Eric Miller, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Sean Premo, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Ryan Snelling, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Robert Winer, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Mark Wing, Firefighter/Fire 03/19/07 03/19/07
Ryan Pauly, Police Communications Operator/Police 03/19/07 03/19/07
motioncarried
The was duly seconded and unanimously.
5 – Pending/New Business
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reported that Tyrone Booze’s attorney had
requested postponing the disability hearing until May.
Member Doran moved to reschedule the job-connected disability hearing for Tyrone
motion carried
Booze to May 10, 2007. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
6 – Director’s Report
a. Discussion of Vince Kirkland request
Mr. Roseto reported that Vince Kirkland had applied for a job-connected disability. The
Workers Compensation doctor’s finding that Mr. Kirkland had a 20% restriction conflicted with a
subsequent IME (Independent Medical Exam) report that Mr. Kirkland was not disabled. After
reviewing the functional capacity test results, which were consistent with the IME, the Workers
Compensation doctor changed his diagnosis to no restrictions. Mr. Kirkland has returned to
Pension Advisory 2007-04-12 2
work in his former Public Utilities position. Mr. Roseto anticipated that Mr. Kirkland would
officially withdraw his disability application.
7 - Committee Members to be Heard
In response to questions, Mr. Roseto said the City may be prepared to schedule the
disability hearing for John Moros in May 2007. The City Council will review Budget Task Force
recommendations on April 27, 2007.
Member Jensen said the PAC election committee has a sufficient number of members.
In response to a question, Finance Director Margie Simmons stated that the actuary report
would not be available before April 27, 2007.
Chair Hiqhtower reviewed Budget Task Force recommendations to fund the Pension
Plan Fund in 2008 and recommended that members review the report. Ms. Simmons said staff
is formulating responses.
In response to his questions, Ms. Simmons said the City had withheld funds from
Elizabeth Alvarez's early retirement pension payments to compensate the Pension Plan for
disability benefits she had received while employed as a Sheriff Deputy. Mr. Roseto said her
pension would have been terminated had Ms. Alvarez not qualified for a reduced pension.
Ms. Simmons said all new pension recipients are paid via direct deposit. All pension
recipients are encouraged to establish this payment method. She reviewed City policies
regarding the issuance of new and replacement checks for pensioners without direct deposit.
Member Schmalzbauer questioned progress on Plan changes to allow employees to
choose their pension benefit payment at the time they are vested. He expressed concern that
pension benefits for Sgt. William Sed rick's widow would soon expire and said a benefit for Mrs.
Sed rick would be grandfathered when the change is finally made. Mr. Roseto said the change
is included in the Pension Plan rewrite, which will be completed soon. He could not comment
on Mrs. Sed rick's case.
8 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:17 a.m.
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Pension Advisory Committee
Pension Advisory 2007-04-12
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