07/12/2018 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2018
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 12, 2018
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - City Hall
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2018
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Tom Jensen, Committee Member
Greg Newland, Committee Member Diane Devol, Committee Member
Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member Bob Cundiff and 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 June 14, 2018 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member Cretekos moved to approve minutes of June 14, 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. Class, & Dept./Div. Pension Eligibility Date
Elizabeth Stagliano, Recreation Leader, Parks and Recreation 06/09/2018
Alexander Hannah, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 06/11/2018
James Miller, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 06/11/2018
Louis Marquez, Traffic Signal Technician, Engineering 06/11/2018
Tayna Martinez, Staff Assistant, Fire 06/11/2018
Branden Leap, Parks Service Technician I, Parks & Recreation 06/11/2018
Donna Jarrell, Police Communications Operator Trainee, Police 06/11/2018
Samantha Sheaffer, Police Communications Operator, Police 06/11/2018
James Brown, Tradesworker, Marine and Aviation 06/11/2018
Monica Dilley, Custodial Worker, Parks & Recreation 06/11/2018
Richard Hartman, Senior Planner, Planning and Development 06/25/2018
Gregory Dixon, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning and Development 06/25/2018
Franklin Kentpas, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering 06/25/2018
Robert Manca, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 06/25/2018
Valerie Christou, Recreation Specialist, Parks and Recreation 06/25/2018
Grant Farley, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 06/25/2018
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2018
Marvin Blythewood, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 06/25/2018
Kimberly Posnak, Development Rev. Technician I, Planning & Development 06/25/2018
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.
4.2 Recommend approval of the following request of employees Lindsey Bessette, Customer
Service Department, Melissa Harris, Police Department and Steven Strong, Fire
Department to vest their pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees'
Pension Plan.
Lindsey Bessette, Senior Systems Analyst, Customer Service
Department, was employed by the City on July 12, 2004, and began
participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Ms. Bessette terminated from
City employment on April 28, 2018.
Melissa Harris, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
City on March 15, 1999, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that
date. Ms. Harris terminated from City employment on June 12, 2018.
Steven Strong, Fire Deputy Chief, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on April 18, 2005, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that
date. Mr. Strong terminated from City employment on May 22, 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.
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
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2018
completed ten (10) years of credited service. Ms. Bessette will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in August 2034.
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. Ms. Harris will meet the hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting
pension in April 2019. Mr. Strong will meet the hazardous duty criteria and
begin collecting pension in December 2020.
Member Newland moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Lindsey Bessette, Customer Service
Department, Melissa Harris, Police Department and Steven
Strong, Fire Department to vest their pensions 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 Diane Bennett, Police
Department, John Brown, Police Department, Debra Reid, Parks and Recreation
Department and Janet Skinner, Police Department, for a regular pension as provided by
Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Diane Bennett, Police Communication Supervisor, Police Department,
was employed by the City on March 14, 1988, and her pension service credit
is effective on September 1, 1997. Her pension will be effective August 1,
2018. Based on an average salary of approximately $61,923.91 over the
past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms.
Bennett's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension
benefit will be approximately $30,912.60 annually.
John Brown, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the
City on October 18, 1993, and his pension service credit is effective on
January 10, 1994. His pension will be effective July 1, 2018. Based on an
average salary of approximately $88,343.11 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Brown's selection of the
50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$54,717.36 annually.
Debra Reid, Administrative Analyst, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on May 6, 1996, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective October 1, 2018. Based
on an average salary of approximately $48,089.84 over the past five years,
the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Reid's selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $27,058.32 annually.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2018
Janet Skinner, Grants Coordinator, Police Department, was employed by
the City on January 27, 1992, and her pension service credit is effective on
that date. Her pension will be effective October 1, 2018. Based on an
average salary of approximately $57,648.08 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Skinner's selection of the
Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $42,284.04 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. Ms. Bennett, Ms. Reid and Ms. Skinner 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. Brown has met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Cundiff moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Diane Bennett, Police Department, John
Brown, Police Department, Debra Reid, Parks and Recreation
Department and Janet Skinner, 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.
4.4 Informal hearing for Mitchell Moen request for non job-connected disability pension
Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said Parks & Recreation Department
Supervisor Mitchell Moen was employed by the City in November 2004. Mr.
Moen now suffered from a terminal illness. Mr. Moen submitted an
application for a non job-connected disability pension, it was not anticipated
he would survive long enough to complete the normal documentation
process. The City had no objection to the request. Mr. Roseto requested the
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes July 12, 2018
PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) expedite the process.
Mr. Roseto read from Code re disability pension requirements; none of
the listed exclusions applied. He requested the document provided by
the servicing physician serve as the IME (Independent Medical Exam).
Member Devol moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive
of the application, personnel file, and medical records to serve as the
IME (Independent Medical Exam) report. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Hamilton moved that Mitchell Moen was employed by the
City in November 2004. Mr. Moen suffers from a terminal illness.
Mr. Moen 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.
5. Old Business Item
Mr. Roseto reported the formal hearing for Joseph Connors disability
pension application was scheduled for September 13, 2018. He reviewed
procedures for the hearing, stating the quasi-judicial process was
expected to last several hours.
Copies of all depositions to be referenced at the hearing were requested.
6. Director's Report: None.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:08 a.m.
6) Ar 'A
Attest: / / Chair
Pension Advisory C
Bo: rd Repo
City of Clearwater
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mittee