04/12/2018 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e I
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 12, 2018
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
Page 1
City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member
Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member Greg Newland, Committee
Member Bob Cundiff, and Committee Member Diane Devol
Absent 1 - Committee Member George Cretekos
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.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of March 8, 2018 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Cundiff moved to approve minutes of March 8, 2018
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 Classification, Department Pension Eligibility Date
Shaun Smigiel, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 3/05/2018
Ivan Hernandez-Perez, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering 3/05/2018
Michael Knotek, Plans Examiner, Planning & Development 3/05/2018
Aaron Lane, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste, 3/05/2018
Leslie Greve, Accounting Technician, Library 3/19/2018
Michael Bloomfield, Gas Technician I, Gas 3/19/2018
Jose David, Gas Technician I, Gas 3/19/2018
Jerry McCarthy, Gas Technician I, Gas 3/19/2018
Sheridan Boyle, Recycling Specialist, Solid Waste 3/19/2018
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.
Page 2
City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
4.2 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Petras Jakstas, Parks and
Recreation Department and Christopher Owens, Public Utilities Department, to vest their
pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Petras Jackstas, Parks Service Tech II, Parks & Recreation Department ,
was employed by the City on January 22, 2007, and began participating in the
Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Jakstas terminated from City employment on
March 22, 2018.
Christopher Owens, Water Treatment Chief Operator, Public Utilities
Department , was employed by the City on September 17, 2007, and began
participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Owens terminated from City
employment on September 21, 2017.
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. Jakstas will
meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in August
2029. Mr. Owens will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin
collecting a pension in August 2033.
Member Jensen moved to recommend approval of the following request
of employees Petras Jakstas, Parks and Recreation Department and
Christopher Owens, Public Utilities Department, to vest their
pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension
Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Page 3
City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Mark Anyon, Fire Department,
Robert Carpenter, Parks and Recreation Department, Ramon Cosme, Police Department,
Fontayne Egger, Police Department, Carmen Heidt, Library Department, and Kent Watts,
Fire Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Kevin Cobb, Fleet Mechanic, Solid Waste General Services Department,
was employed by the City on May 28, 1996, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective June 1, 2018. Based on an
average salary of approximately $59,797.69 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Cobb's selection of the Life
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $36,191.28 annually.
Mark Anyon, Firefighter/Driver Operator, Fire Department, was employed
by the City on November 5, 1990, and his pension service credit is effective
on that date. His pension will be effective April 1, 2018. Based on an average
salary of approximately $77,134.25 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Anyon's selection of the 10 Year Certain
and Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $61,650.84 annually.
Robert Carpenter, Recreation Supervisor I, Parks and Recreation
Department, was employed by the City on August 4, 1997, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective April 1, 2018.
Based on an average salary of approximately $48,424.06 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Carpenter's selection
of the Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $27,506.16 annually.
Ramon Cosme, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the
City on April 5, 1993, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective April 1, 2018. Based on an average salary of
approximately $96,393.49 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Cosme's selection of the Life Annuity, this pension
benefit will be approximately $66,562.32 annually.
Fontayne Egger, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
City on May 17, 1989, and her pension service credit is effective on that date.
Her pension will be effective April 1, 2018. Based on an average salary of
approximately $89,930.73 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Ms. Egger's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $70,685.88 annually.
Carmen Heidt, Librarian II, Library Department, was employed by the
City on October 3, 1994, and her pension service credit is effective on
November 28, 1994. Her pension will be effective June 1, 2018. Based on an
average salary of approximately $53,753.09 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Heidt's selection of the 50%
Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
Page 4
City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
$31,698.60 annually.
Kent Watts, Fire Assistant Chief, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on May 15, 2006, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective April 1, 2018. Based on an average salary of
approximately $83,731.19 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Watts' selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $26,369.04 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. Carpenter and Ms. Heidt 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.
Anyon, Mr. Cosme, Ms. Egger and Mr. Watts have met the hazardous duty
criteria.
Member Newland moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Mark Anyon, Fire Department, Robert Carpenter,
Parks and Recreation Department, Ramon Cosme, Police Department,
Fontayne Egger, Police Department, Carmen Heidt, Library Department,
and Kent Watts, 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.
4.4 Informal hearing for Kyle Resler request for non job connected disability pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said Police Officer Kyle Resler had
submitted an application for a non job connected disability pension and letter
from his doctor indicating he had a significant terminal illness. Due to this
circumstance, the Pension Plan Attorney supported bypassing the normal
process of medical record submissions and IME (Independent Medical Exam).
Page 5
City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
The PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) took this action previously under
similar circumstances, the Committee could approve the Pension today or
require the normal process to be followed.
In response to questions, Mr. Roseto said the Human Resources Department
had worked closely with the treating physician. Mr. Resler would have 20 years
of service in July and be eligible to retire with a full pension. If approved, Mr.
Resler will collect a negligibly reduced pension several months early and
choose a beneficiary package.
Member Jensen moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive
of the application and medical doctor's letter in place of an IME. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Police Chief Daniel Slaughter said Officer Resler, a Countryside High School
graduate, was a hard worker and had served the City well as a Police Officer
for almost 20 years. He said Officer Resler was a very active and engaged
officer who served on the midnight shift and motorcycle patrol. He said staff
had followed Officer Resler through his treatment and rapidly declining health.
He requested the PAC consider the application.
Member Jensen moved that Kyle Resler had met the requirements for a
disability pension as he is disabled due to sickness or injury, such
disability is likely to be continuous and permanent from a cause other
than those listed as general disability exclusions, and such disability
renders the participant unable to perform any useful, meaningful and
necessary work for the employer in an available position for which the
participant is reasonably qualified or for which the participant may be
reasonably trained to perform. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
The Committee's deepest sympathy was expressed to Officer Resler and
he was thanked for his fine work for the City.
4.5 Election of Officers
Member Hamilton moved to reappoint Nathan Hightower as Chair.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Newland moved to reappoint Tom Jensen as Vice Chair.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.6 Appoint Michael Walek, Matthew Dupree, John Klinefelter, Roberta Gluski and Denise
Balog to serve as the PAC Election Committee with John Klinefelter serving as
Chairman. (employee only item) (Cont'd from 3/8/18)
Page 6
City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes April 12, 2018
Member Jenson moved to appoint Michael Walek, Matthew Dupree,
John Klinefelter, Roberta Gluski and Denise Balog to serve as the PAC
Election Committee with John Klinefelter serving as Chair. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously by employee members
qualified to vote.
5. Old Business Item: None.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Roseto said several disability applications were in the queue. Joseph
Connor's case remained in attorneys' hands.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:13 a.m.
City of Clearwater
Page 7
1
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee