06/14/2018 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 14, 2018
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
Roll Call
Present 6 - Vice Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member Diane Devol, Committee
Member Greg Newland, Committee Member George Cretekos,
Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton, and Committee Member Bob
Cundiff
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.
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 May 10, 2018 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member Hamilton moved to approve minutes of May 10, 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
Alexandria Wells, Librarian I, Library 4/28/2018
Stephanie Catlyn, Librarian II, Library 4/28/2018
Brian Klinefelter, Stormwater Technician I, Engineering 4/30/2018
Jorge Trinidad, Custodial Worker, Parks & Recreation 4/30/2018
Alvin Miller Jr., Parks Service Technician I, Parks & Recreation 4/30/2018
Max Villalobos, Building Inspector Technician, Planning & Development 4/30/2018
Emily Johnson, Graphics Designer, Public Communications 4/30/2018
Suzanne Judge, Police Communications Operator, Police 5/12/2018
Darold Cook, Police Officer, Police 5/14/2018
Stephany Maxwell, Police Officer, Police 5/14/2018
Kevin McCann, Police Officer, Police 5/14/2018
George Solakian Jr., Police Officer, Police 5/14/2018
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
Levi Brownell, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 5/14/2018
Robert Chiavaroli, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 5/14/2018
Crystal Mathews, Librarian II, Library 5/14/2018
Joseph Coley, Parks, Streets & Sidewalk Technician I, Parks & Recreation 5/14/2018
James Quist, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 5/14/2018
Cedric Gaynor, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 5/14/2018
Sean Ford, Parking, Facility & Security Aide, Engineering 5/14/2018
Keely Utterback, Recreation Leader, Parks and Recreation 5/26/2018
Steve Willis, Recreation Leader, Parks and Recreation 5/28/2018
Deborah Meek, Parking, Facility & Security Aide, Engineering 5/29/2018
Darryan Bryant, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 5/29/2018
Travis Rackard, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 5/29/2018
Caleb McElroy, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 5/29/2018
Diera Simon, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 5/29/2018
Troy Campbell, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 5/29/2018
Dylan Castellano, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 5/29/2018
Member Cundiff 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 employee Florence Reichert, Public
Utilities Department to vest their pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees'
Pension Plan.
Florence Reichert, Storeskeeper, Public Utilities Department, was
employed by the City on May 3, 1999, and began participating in the
Pension Plan on June 7, 1999. Ms. Reichert terminated from City
employment on April 13, 2018.
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. Ms. Reichert will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in August 2020.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
Member Devol moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employee Florence Reichert, Public Utilities
Department to vest her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of
the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Lynn Davis, Police
Department, Robert Orton, Planning and Development Department, Jean Peeke,
Planning and Development Department, Margaret Plennert, Police Department and Gary
Spence, Fire Department for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424
of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Lynn Davis, Police Property Supervisor, Police Department, was
employed by the City on April 27, 1987, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective June 1, 2018. Based on
an average salary of approximately $49,870.18 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Davis' selection of the 50%
Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$39,526.20 annually.
Robert Orton, Staff Assistant, Planning and Development Department,
was employed by the City on April 29, 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 $40,048.72 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Orton's selection of the
100% Joint and Survivor Annuity with a 10% Partial Lump Sum, this pension
benefit will be approximately $19,671.72 annually.
Jean Peeke, Development Review Specialist, Planning and
Development Department, was employed by the City on January 19, 1999,
and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be
effective August 1, 2018. Based on an average salary of approximately
$37,836.63 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Ms. Peeke's selection of the 10 Year Certain and Life Annuity,
this pension benefit will be approximately $19,418.04 annually.
Margaret Plennert, Police Office Specialist, Police Department, was
employed by the City on July 5, 1988, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective August 1, 2018. Based
on an average salary of approximately $45,789.24 over the past five years,
the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Plennert's selection of
the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $37,867.08
annually.
Gary Spence, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on May 26, 1998, and his pension service credit is effective on that
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
date. His pension will be effective June 1, 2018. Based on an average salary
of approximately $88,003.79 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Spence's selection of the 100% Joint
and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $47,310.48
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. Ms. Davis, Mr. Orton, Ms.
Peeke and Ms. Plennert 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. Spence has met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Newland moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Lynn Davis, Police Department, Robert
Orton, Planning and Development Department, Jean Peeke,
Planning and Development Department, Margaret Plennert, Police
Department and Gary Spence, 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 Ronald Neuberger request for job-connected disability pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto reviewed requirements of the
Code for a job-connected disability pension. Mr. Neuberger was injured
on the job. None of the listed exclusions applied.
Member Newland moved to accept into evidence the entire file,
inclusive of the application, personnel file, interrogatories,
medical records, and the IME (Independent Medical Exam)
reports. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Concern was expressed procedure required disability applications to
include letters from 2 doctors indicating the disability was total and
permanent, this application had only 1 letter. It was questioned if the 2
IME reports were sufficient.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
Mr. Roseto said PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) members had the
latitude to determine what medical information they wanted to consider.
The committee's decision needed to be based on definitive medical
information.
Member Hamilton moved that Ronald Neuberger 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 firefighter. The motion was duly
seconded.
It was noted Mr. Neuberger had been injured at work in an automobile
Accident. Mr. Roseto said the Risk Department pursued appropriate action
re related insurance issues. Pension action was not taken until it was
determined Mr. Neuberger had reached maximum medical improvement.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Neuberger was thanked for his service. Mr. Neuberger said this was
not the way he wanted to leave his employment with the City.
4.5 Annual Certification of Pension Entitlement Processing
Mr. Roseto reviewed the required annual pension entitlement certification
process.
Senior Pension Payroll Analyst Jennifer Moulton said in January letters
were mailed to 1,258 pensioners including 137 disability recipients and
84 survivors. In March, staff sent 46 certified letters to pensioners who
had not responded by the deadline. All forms were then returned. Staff
verified surviving spouses continued to qualify for benefits. Approximately
11% of pensioners were disability recipients.
Ms. Moulton was thanked for her efforts.
5. Old Business Item
Mr. Roseto reported the attorneys had delayed the formal hearing for Joseph
Connors disability pension application until September. It was important
that all members attend the hearing, the quasi-judicial process was expected
to last several hours.
6. Director's Report: None.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes June 14, 2018
7. Board Members to be Heard
Member Newland said financial statements were due July 1, 2018
Member Devol was congratulated on her reappointment to the Committee.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
City of Clearwater
A
Chair
Pension Advisory Committee
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