03/12/2020 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 12, 2020
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Greg Newland, Committee
Member Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member Bob Cundiff, and
Committee Member April Eversole
Absent 2 - Committee Member Christian Schuele, and Committee Member Jay
E. Polglaze
Also Present - Jennifer Poirrier— Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan —
Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. at the Main Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of January 9, 2020 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted
in written summation.
Member Newland moved to approve minutes of January 9, 2020 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
Jonathon Roth. Survey Assistant. Engineering 01/06/2020
Heather Davidson. Human Resources Staff Assistant, Human Resources 01/06/2020
Alyssa Gaudreault, Recreation Manager— Volunteers, Parks & Recreation 01/06/2020
Braxton Jones, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 01/06/2020
Owen Reich, Police Telecommunicator Trainee, Police 01/06/2020
Amanda Gill, Police Telecommunicator Trainee, Police 01/06/2020
Cheyenne Calle, Police Telecommunicator Trainee, Police 01/06/2020
Wycliffe Crosse Jr., Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 01/06/2020
James Cusic, Lead Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 01/06/2020
Mark Fodor, Senior Accountant, Solid Waste 01/21/2020
Serena Lawrence, Stormwater Technician, Engineering 01/21/2020
John Kenny, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 01/21/2020
Marvin Garcia, Police Officer, Police 01/21/2020
Matthew High, Police Officer, Police 01/21/2020
Enea Kume, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 01/21/2020
Christopher Barber, Customer Service Asst. Manager, Utility Customer Svc. 02/03/2020
Jeffrey Zalmanoff, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 02/03/2020
Tara Deegan, Human Resources Staff Assistant, Human Resources 02/03/2020
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
Jourdon Rich, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 02/03/2020
Hannah Hodges, Crime Analyst, Police 02/03/2020
Steve Heppler, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Public Utilities 02/03/2020
Bridget McCord, Police Telecommunicator Trainee, Police 02/03/2020
Philip Kirkpatrick, Sr. Economic Dev. Coord., Economic Dev. & Housing 02/18/2020
Peter Smutko, Gas Technician —Apprentice, Gas 02/18/2020
Guido Lubrano Jr., Gas Technician —Apprentice, Gas 02/18/2020
Mitchell Johnson, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 02/18/2020
Kenneth Kinnear, Recreation Specialist, Parks & Recreation 02/18/2020
Member Hamilton 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 Mark Tokar, Parks and
Recreation Department to vest their pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Mark Tokar, Parks Service Foreman, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on November 14, 2005, and began participating in
the Pension Plan on that date. Mr. Tokar terminated from City employment
on January 25, 2020.
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. Mr. Tokar will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in March 2030.
Member Eversole moved to recommend approval of the following request
of employee Mark Tokar, Parks and Recreation Department, to vest
his pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension
Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of employees William Buzzell, Solid Waste
General Services Department, Richard Hughes, Fire Department, Rose Lara, Public
Utilities Department, Jane Sloan, Planning & Development Department, Steven Smith,
Fire Department and Mark Wallace, Parks and Recreation Department, for a regular
pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
William Buzzell, Solid Waste Manager, Solid Waste General Services
Department, was employed by the City on March 26, 1990, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective April 1,
2020. Based on an average salary of approximately $67,108.05 over the
past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Buzzell's
selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity with a 10% partial lump sum,
this pension benefit will be approximately $48,396.00 annually.
Richard Hughes, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on August 9, 1993, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective March 1, 2020. Based on an average
salary of approximately $102,120.59 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Hughes' selection of the 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $76,174.20 annually.
Rose Lara, Public Utilities Supervisor, Public Utilities Department, was
employed by the City on October 14, 1996, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective April 1, 2020. Based on
an average salary of approximately $48,470.74 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Lara selection of the 10
Year Certain and Life Annuity with a 10% partial lump sum, this pension
benefit will be approximately $27,657.96 annually.
Jane Sloan, Development Review Tech II, Planning and Development
Department, was employed by the City on November 13, 2007, and her
pension service credit is effective on August 4, 2008. Her pension will be
effective February 1, 2020. Based on an average salary of approximately
$34,107.74 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Ms. Sloan's selection of the Life Annuity, this pension benefit
will be approximately $10,778.76 annually.
Steven Smith, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on October 4, 1999, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective March 1, 2020. Based on an average
salary of approximately $91,163.59 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Smith's selection of the 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity with a 10% partial lump sum, this pension benefit will be
approximately $42,790.68 annually.
Mark Wallace, Sr Park Streets and Sidewalks Tech, Parks & Recreation
Department, was employed by the City on August 30, 1999, and his pension
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
service credit is effective on October 18, 1999. His pension will be effective
February 1, 2020. Based on an average salary of approximately $38,473.47
over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr.
Wallace's selection of the Life Annuity with a 10% partial lump sum, this
pension benefit will be approximately $19,316.88 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. Buzzell, Ms. Lara, Ms.
Sloan and Mr. Wallace 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. Hughes and Mr. Smith have met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Newland moved to recommend approval of the following request
of employees William Buzzell, Solid Waste General Services
Department, Richard Hughes, Fire Department, Rose Lara, Public
Utilities Department, Jane Sloan, Planning & Development Department,
Steven Smith, Fire Department and Mark Wallace, Parks and
Recreation 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 Review and action on request from survivor/beneficiary of John Mehrle for a death benefit.
Senior Pension Payroll Analyst Jennifer Moulton said John Mehrle had
passed away, the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) was tasked with
approving his death benefit.
Member Hamilton moved to recommend approval of the request
from the survivor/beneficiary of John Mehrle for a death benefit.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.5 Appoint Ellen Ayo, Kyle Mueller, John Klinefelter, Roberta Gluski and Denise Balog to
serve as the PAC Election Committee with John Klinefelter serving as Chairman.
(employee only item)
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
Member Newland moved to appoint Ellen Ayo, Kyle Mueller, 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. Members Newland and Eversole
voted "Aye." Motion carried unanimously.
4.6 Ratify and Confirm correction of error of underpayment of pension death benefit for
Stephen Doherty
Ms. Moulton said Stephen Doherty's beneficiary had not received a
portion of his death benefit. His surviving spouse was awarded
$67,634.05, including interest.
In response to questions, Ms. Moulton reported on the discovery of the
discrepancy and procedures implemented to make certain all beneficiaries
receive all of a pensioner's contributions. She will research if any other
beneficiary was not properly compensated.
Member Cundiff moved to recommend approval to ratify and confirm the
correction of error of underpayment of the pension death benefit for Stephen
Doherty. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items: None.
6. Director's Report
Human Resources Director Jennifer Poirrier reported the 2020 Client
Conference hosted by the Pension Plan Attorney's law firm, Klausner
Kaufman Jensen & Levinson, was scheduled for May 27— 29 at the W
Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale.
Ms. Poirrier said the City Clerk had notified her that Nathan Hightower had
served on the PAC since 2003. The City Council preferred that members
not serve more than 2 terms on a board. The City received an application
from a resident interested in serving as the 7th member of the committee.
Mr. Hightower had expressed interest in reappointment.
Discussion ensued with comments that 2 committee members were absent
and the vote should be delayed, rules did not limit committee members to 2
terms, and having an attorney serve as the 7th member was valuable. One
member recommended the Pension Trustees amend the Code to require
the 7th member to be an attorney.
Member Cundiff moved to reappoint Nathan Hightower as the 7th member
of the PAC. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
It was requested that the applicant be thanked for his interest.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes March 12, 2020
In response to a question, Finance Director Jay Ravins said the Pension
Plan's value had declined but investments were conservative and well
diversified. He anticipated Pension Plan money managers were taking
reasonable actions to mitigate consequences of a bear market and stated
the Plan will survive.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Member Cundiff said he had enjoyed working on the Committee and
hoped he would be reelected to the City Council.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
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