02/14/2019 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 14, 2019
9:00 AM
Council Chambers - Main Library
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member George Cretekos,
Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member Bob Cundiff
and Committee Member Christian Schuele
Absent 2 - Committee Member Greg Newland, Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton,
Also Present - Jennifer Poirrier— 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 the Main Library.
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 January 10, 2019 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Cundiff moved to approve minutes of January 10, 2019
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, DepartmentPension Eligibility Date
Chelsea Schneiter, Customer Service Representative, Customer Service 01/07/2019
Michael Rivas, Survey Assistant I, Engineering 01/07/2019
David Koleszar, Police Officer, Police 01/07/2019
Corey Roberts, Police Officer, Police 01/07/2019
Paul Durrance, Police Officer, Police 01/07/2019
Alexis Hayward, Police Officer, Police 01/07/2019
Alex Krolick, Police Officer, Police 01/07/2019
Justus Mullin, Police Officer, Police 01/07/2019
Alexander Grant, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 01/07/2019
Marvin Blythewood, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 01/07/2019
Wayne Ferrell, Parks Service Supervisor I, Parks & Recreation 01/07/2019
Edward Moralobo, Recreation Leader, Parks & Recreation 01/19/2019
Janelle Vincenty, Staff Assistant, Fire 01/22/2019
Richard Droncheff, Gas Technician I, Gas 01/22/2019
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019
William Bucceri, Tradesworker, Marine & Aviation 01/22/2019
Juliahna Green, Neighborhood Services Coor., Planning & Development 01/22/2019
Michael Ryder, Heavy Equipment Operator, Parks & Recreation 01/22/2019
Joseph Rotondo, Recreation Leader, Parks & Recreation 01/22/2019
Member Scheule 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 David Huff, Public Utilities
Department, Timothy Keene, Public Utilities Department, Christine Schlerf, Human
Resources Department and Shawn Stafford, Public Communications Department, to vest
their pensions as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
David Huff, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator B, Public Utilities
Department, was employed by the City on December 10, 2007, and began
participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Huff terminated from City
employment on December 7, 2018.
Timothy Keene, Public Utilities Tech III, Public Utilities Department, was
employed by the City on August 4, 1997, and began participating in the
Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Keene terminated from City employment on
January 19, 2019.
Christine Schlerf, Human Resources Manager, Human Resources
Department, was employed by the City on May 22, 2000, and began
participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Ms. Schlerf terminated from
City employment on December 19, 2018.
Shawn Stafford, Station Manager, Public Communications Department,
was employed by the City on May 6, 1996, and began participating in the
Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Stafford terminated from City employment on
November 3, 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
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019
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. Huff will meet the non-hazardous duty
criteria and begin collecting a pension in December 2026. Mr. Keene will
meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in
February 2024. Ms. Schlerf will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and
begin collecting a pension in January 2022. Mr. Stafford will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in June 2026.
Member Cretekos moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees David Huff, Public Utilities Department,
Timothy Keene, Public Utilities Department, Christine Schlerf,
Human Resources Department and Shawn Stafford, Public
Communications Department to vest their 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 Vincent Booker, Fire
Department, James Jackson, Parks and Recreation Department, William Jaroszek,
Information Technology, Thomas Jensen, Fire Department and Patricia Meri, Customer
Service Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of
the Employees' Pension Plan.
Vincent Booker, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on November 2, 1992, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2019. Based on an average
salary of approximately $83,831.58 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Booker's selection of the 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $55,621.20
annually.
James Jackson, Tradesworker, 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 February 1, 2019.
Based on an average salary of approximately $38,383.58 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Jackson's
selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $22,078.80 annually.
William Jaroszek, Senior Systems Programmer, Information
Technology Department, was employed by the City on August 29, 19907
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Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019
and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be
effective February 1, 2019. Based on an average salary of approximately
$85,206.82 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Mr. Jaroszek's selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $66,520.44 annually.
Thomas Jensen, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on May 26, 1987, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2019. Based on an average
salary of approximately $106,223.63 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Jensen's selection of the 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $96,354.84
annually.
Patricia Meri, Senior Customer Service Representative, Customer
Service Department, was employed by the City on August 5, 1985, and her
pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be effective
February 1, 2019. Based on an average salary of approximately $49,533.38
over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms.
Meri's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $45,617.52 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. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Jaroszek and
Ms. Meri 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. Booker and Mr. Jensen have met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Cundiff moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees Vincent Booker, Fire Department, James
Jackson, Parks and Recreation Department, William Jaroszek,
Information Technology, Thomas Jensen, Fire Department and Patricia
Meri, Customer Service 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.
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Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019
5. Old Business Item: None.
6. Director's Report
Human Resources Director Jennifer Poirrier said she would forward
information to the Committee re the Florida Division of Retirement
annual pension trustees school, April 30 — May 2, 2019 in Tallahassee.
Ms. Poirrier said one or two informal disability hearings will be on the
March 14, 2019 agenda.
7. Board Members to be Heard
Member Cundiff wished all a Happy Valentine's Day
Member Cretekos thanked retiring and vesting employees for their past
service. He noted a tie vote required a runoff election for the committee's
empty seat.
8. Ad'iourn
Chair Hightower welcomed new Committee member Christian Scheule.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
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