04/15/2021 - Special Meeting Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 15, 2021
9:00 AM
Special Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2021
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Greg Newland, Committee
Member Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member April Eversole,
Committee Member Frank Hibbard, Committee Member Mark Bunker,
and Committee Member Gregory Record
Also Present - Jennifer Poirrier— Human Resources Director, Nicole Sprague — Deputy
City Clerk, Anna Klausner—Attorney for the Committee attending via
telephone
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. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
3. New Business Items
3.1 Informal hearing for William Nahorodny request for job-connected disability pension
Attorney for the Committee Anna Klausner, attending via telephone,
reviewed Code procedures.
Attorney Klausner said William Nahorodny had sustained an on-the-job
injury on November 1, 2019 when his right shoulder and interior chest
collided with his police cruiser's door while pursuing an individual. Mr.
Nahorodny was seen by multiple medical providers and underwent cervical
surgery on February 3, 2020.
Attorney Klausner said on February 22, 2021, Mr. Nahorodny was examined
by the IME (Independent Medical Exam) physician who reviewed all of his
medical records, considered his history, and opined that Mr. Nahorodny
could not perform the duties of a Police Officer due to continuing pain and
weakness in his cervical spine and right shoulder, even after corrective
surgery. The IME report stated Mr. Nahorodny may be suited for desk duty,
but the pain and condition of his right arm might cause stress and distraction
that may render him unable to perform even desk duties. The IME report
indicated Mr. Nahorodny's disability was service-connected, total and
permanent.
Member Hibbard moved to accept into evidence the entire file,
inclusive of the application, personnel file, interrogatories, medical
records, and IME. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes April 15, 2021
Attorney Jason Fox, representing Mr. Nahorodny, said based on the
competent and substantial evidence, Mr. Nahorodny's disability was total,
permanent, and service -connected. He said Mr. Nahorodny suffered from
pain, weakness, and loss of range of motion and was at risk for additional
surgeries. He requested the Committee rely on the IME report and
approve Mr. Nahorodny's disability application.
Mr. Nahorodny thanked the Committee and stated this was not how he
wanted his departure to happen. He said he loved Clearwater, had lived
here his entire life and would do it all over again.
Discussion ensued with comments that the IME report was clear, in-depth
and one of the most thorough reports ever submitted to the Committee.
Member Hamilton moved that William Nahorodny met the requirements
for a job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of an
injury suffered 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 impairment, to render useful and
efficient service as a police officer. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
4. Old Business Items: None.
5. Director's Report
Human Resources Director Jennifer Poirrier said a potential disability
application was in process.
6. Board Members to be Heard
7. Adjourn
Attest:
Board Repo
City of Clearwater
Chair Hightower thanked IT for logging members into the computers and
thanked members for accommodating the Special Meeting to consider the
disability application.
The meeting adjourned at 9:16 a.m.
IF)
Chair, Pension Advisory Committee
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