08/16/2021 Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 16, 2021
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Trustees
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Frank Hibbard, Trustee David Allbritton, Trustee Hoyt Hamilton,
Trustee Kathleen Beckman, and Trustee Mark Bunker
Also Present— Micah Maxwell — Assistant City Manager, Michael Delk —
Assistant City Manager, Pamela K. Akin — City Attorney,
Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk
and Jennifer Poirrier— Human Resources Director
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Chair Hibbard
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m.
A moment of silence was observed in tribute for the late City Manager
William B. Horne ll.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the June 14, 2021 Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the June 14, 2021 Pension
Trustees Meeting Minutes as submitted in written summation by the
City Clerk. 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 Approve the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Name/Job Classification/ Department Pension
Eligibility Date
Kadarious Brown, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste & Recycling 05/10/2021
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
Carlos Dennis, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste & Recycling 05/10/2021
Oral Grant, Streets &Sidewalks Technician, Parks & Recreation 05/10/2021
Shay Mavis, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities 05/10/2021
Kevin Ramberac, Parking Enforcement Specialist , Engineering - Parking 05/10/2021
Logan Wells, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 05/10/2021
Kyon Devine, Wastewater Collections Technician, Public Utilities 05/24/2021
Corey Dunn, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste & Recycling 05/24/2021
Damon Merricks, Solid Waste Equipment Oper., Solid Waste & Recycling 05/24/2021
Bret Mershon, Skilled Tradesworker, General Support Services 05/24/2021
Christopher Rose, Solid Waste Equipment Oper., Solid Waste & Recycling 05/24/2021
Kylon Lamar, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 06/07/2021
Kendall Clark, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering/Parking 06/21/2021
Joel Rudolph, Traffic Signs & Markings Tech, Engineering/Traffic 06/21/2021
Lindsey Dicicco, Accounting Technician, Parks & Recreation 06/21/2021
Nathan Pandy, Senior Staff Assistant, Public Utilities 06/21/2021
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the new hires for acceptance
into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
4.2 Approve the following request of employees Mark Coffin, Parks and Recreation
Department, Michelle Fry, Gas Systems Department, Richard Long, Police Department
and Scott O'Hare, Police Department, to vest their pensions as provided by Section
2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Mark Coffin, Senior Parks Service Tech, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on April 8, 2002, and began participating in the on
April 7, 2003. Mr. Coffin terminated from city employment on June 2, 2021.
Michelle Fry, Engineering Tech, Gas Systems Department, was employed by
the City on June 26, 2006, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that
date. Ms. Fry terminated from city employment on June 11, 2019.
Richard Long, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the City
on January 12, 2004, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date.
Mr. Long terminated from city employment on May 7, 2021.
Scott O'Hare, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on
July 16, 2001, and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date. Mr.
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
O'Hare terminated from city employment on June 16, 2021.
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 (January 1,
2013), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date
on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five years and completed
twenty years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached
age sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service; or the date on
which a member has completed thirty 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 years and completed
twenty-five years of credited service; or the date on which a participant has
reached the age of sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service.
Mr. Coffin will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a
pension in May 2023. Ms. Fry will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and
begin collecting a pension in December 2027.
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 years of credited service
regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty-five
years and completed ten years of credited service. Mr. Long will meet the
hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pension in February 2024. Mr.
O'Hare will meet the hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pension in
August 2021.
Trustee Beckman moved to approve the following request of
employees Mark Coffin, Parks and Recreation Department, Michelle
Fry, Gas Systems Department, Richard Long, Police Department
and Scott O'Hare, Police 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 Approve the following request of employees Edward Davis, Parks and Recreation
Department, Paul Estes, Engineering Department, Kimberly Feeney, Planning and
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
Development Department, William Higginbotham III, Police Department, Cindy Jones,
Police Department, JC Jones, General Support Services Department, Steven Kotches,
Gas System Department, Brian McAuley, Police Department, Stephen Miller, Gas
System Department, Kerry Nelson, Gas System Department, Michael Ogliaruso, Police
Department and Brian Rogers, Police Department, for a regular pension as provided by
Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Edward Davis, Arborist, Parks and Recreation Department, was employed by
the City on March 19, 1984, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective October 1, 2021. Based on an average salary
of approximately $52,403.57 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Davis' selection of the 10 Year Certain and Life
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $51,192.84 annually.
Paul Estes, Street Sweeper Operator, Engineering Department, was employed
by the City on June 4, 1990, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective July 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of
approximately $54,021.21 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Estes' selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $46,164.48 annually.
Kimberly Feeney, Senior Staff Assistant, Planning and Development
Department, was employed by the City on October 9, 2000, and her pension
service credit is effective on April 7, 2001. Her pension will be effective
September 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of approximately $41,121.08
over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms.
Feeney's selection of the Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$23,059.56 annually.
William Higginbotham III, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by
the City on October 9, 2000, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective June 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of
approximately $86,976.00 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Higginbotham's selection of the 100% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $48,130.44 annually.
Cindy Jones, Custodial Worker, Police Department, was employed by the City
on July 10, 1995, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her
pension will be effective July 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of
approximately $33,898.63 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Ms. Jones' selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $22,042.92 annually.
CJ Jones, Skilled Tradesworker, General Support Services Department, was
employed by the City on February 1, 1999, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective July 1, 2021. Based on an
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
average salary of approximately $43,600.55 over the past five years, the formula
for computing regular pensions and Mr. Jones' selection of the 100% Joint and
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $19,775.40 annually.
Steven Kotches, Senior Gas Technician, Gas System Department, was
employed by the City on December 7, 1998, and his pension service credit is
effective on December 23, 1998. His pension will be effective June 1, 2021.
Based on an average salary of approximately $42,994.41 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Kotches' selection of
the 10 Year Certain and Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$25,481.52 annually.
Brian McAuley, Police Major, Police Department, was employed by the City on
March 30, 1992, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective June 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of
approximately $126,205.15 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. McAuley's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $99,128.28 annually.
Steven Miller, Gas System Specialist, Gas System Department, was employed
by the City on May 28, 1996, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective July 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of
approximately $52,490.71 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Miller's selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $34,428.12 annually.
Kerry Nelson, Gas System Specialist, Gas System Department, was employed
by the City on June 28, 2004, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective August 1, 2021. Based on an average salary
of approximately $49,434.42 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Nelson's selection of the Life Annuity, this pension
benefit will be approximately $23,093.52 annually.
Michael Ogliaruso, Police Lieutenant, Police Department, was employed by the
City on January 8, 1996, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective July 1, 2021. Based on an average salary of
approximately $121,872.24 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Ogliaruso's selection of the Life Annuity with a 30%
partial lump sum, this pension benefit will be approximately $60,100.56 annually.
Brian Rogers, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on
July 16, 2001, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective August 1, 2021.
Based on an average salary of approximately $85,594.47 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Rogers' selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity this pension benefit will be approximately
$46,274.88 annually.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (January 1,
2013), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date
on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five years and completed
twenty years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached
age sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service; or the date on
which a member has completed thirty 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 years and completed
twenty-five years of credited service; or the date on which a participant has
reached the age of sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service.
Mr. Davis, Mr. Estes, Ms. Feeney, Ms. Jones, Mr. Jones, Mr. Kotches, Mr. Miller
and Mr. Nelson 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 years of credited service
regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty-five
years and completed ten years of credited service. Mr. Higginbotham, Mr.
McAuley, Mr. Ogliaruso and Mr. Rogers have met the hazardous duty criteria.
Trustee Bunker moved to approve the following request of
employees Edward Davis, Parks and Recreation Department, Paul
Estes, Engineering Department, Kimberly Feeney, Planning and
Development Department, William Higginbotham III, Police
Department, Cindy Jones, Police Department, JC Jones, General
Support Services Department, Steven Kotches, Gas System
Department, Brian McAuley, Police Department, Stephen Miller, Gas
System Department, Kerry Nelson, Gas System Department, Michael
Ogliaruso, Police Department and Brian Rogers, 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 Approve pension plan administrative expenditures for fiscal year 2022 totaling
not-to-exceed $371,900.
The Employees' Pension Plan does not have a legally required budget.
However, all expenditures must be approved by the Trustees. The following are
routine administrative expenditures that staff is requesting approval of for
administrative efficiency.
The recommended expenditures for fiscal year 2022 reflect a $9,400, or 2.5%,
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
decrease over the approved fiscal 2021 expenditures. This net decrease results
primarily from decreased annual licensing and maintenance costs for the new
Tyler Munis payroll system.
Training and travel are the estimated costs of pension training and related
travel, including fiduciary training for the Trustees and Pension Advisory
Committee (PAC) members. This is a not-to-exceed amount given uncertainty
regarding the number of Trustees and PAC members that may elect to pursue
training.
Expenditures for physicals are per the pension ordinance requirement that new
employees must pass a comprehensive physical exam to be accepted into the
pension plan.
Reimbursements to the General Fund and Central Insurance Fund are for the
cost of oversight and administration of the Plan. The reimbursements are for
services provided by Human Resources, Payroll, and Finance personnel, along
with related operating expenditures.
The firm of Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen and Levinson currently serves as the
Plan's pension attorneys. Annual attorney fees also include medical bills for
medical services authorized by the PAC, as well as attorney fees for disability
cases and hearings.
Money manager, performance measurement consulting, custodial/safekeeping,
and actuary fees (other than actuary hourly consulting and special projects) are
all governed by contracts separately approved by the Trustees and are not
included in this agenda item total.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
646xxxx-5xxxxx (various pension plan expenditure codes)
Finance Director Jay Ravins provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve pension plan administrative
expenditures for fiscal year 2022 totaling not-to-exceed $371,900.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Director's Report — None.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees
6. Adjourn
Attest
City Clerk
Meeting Minutes August 16, 2021
The meeting adjourned at 9:06 a.m.
City of Clearwater
Chair
Employees' Pension Plan Trustees
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