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03/10/2022 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 10, 2022 9:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Pension Advisory Committee Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 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 - Stuart Kaufman —Attorney for the Committee, 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 13, 2022 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in written summation. Member Hibbard moved to approve minutes of January 13, 2022 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 Kindred, Charles, Custodial Worker, Police Department 01/03/2022 Johnson, Christopher, Traffic Signal Technician, Engineering 01/31/2022 Capone, Matthew, Police Officer, Police Department 01/03/2022 McCallum, Benjamin, Police Officer, Police Department 01/03/2022 Mengerink, Adam, Police Officer, Police Department 01/03/2022 Negron, Samantha, Police Officer, Police Department 01/03/2022 Neighly, Kathern, Senior Accountant, Solid Waste & Recycling 01/03/2022 Pinsker, Kristen, Police Officer, Police Department 01/03/2022 Robinson, Alicia, Development Review Technician, Planning & Development 01/03/2022 Styles, Lauren, Police Officer, Police Department 01/03/2022 Taggart, Steven, Wastewater Treatment Plant Oper. Trainee, Public Utilities 01/03/2022 Prins, Dylan, Planner, Planning & Development 01/10/2022 Johnson, Brandy, Customer Service Representative, Utility Customer Service 01/18/2022 Biondo, Vito, Meter Reader, Utility Customer Service 01/18/2022 Sivanish, Leland, Senior Accountant, Engineering - Stormwater 01/18/2022 Blauvelt, Shawna, Contracts & Procurement Specialist, Engineering 01/18/2022 Wingfield, Ryan, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering - Parking 01/18/2022 Nina, Joel, Police Cadet, Police Department 01/15/2022 Perry, Michele, Police Cadet, Police Department 01/15/2022 Page 2 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Mitchell, Jonathan, Police Cadet, Police Department 01/15/2022 Green, Marquez, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste & Recycling 01/31/2022 Harris, Brooke, Senior Systems Programmer, Information Technology 01/31/2022 Mannossos, Tara, Utility Dispatcher, Gas System 01/31/2022 Reich, Owen, Police Cadet, Police Department 01/15/2022 Wojciechowska, Barbara, Accounting Technician, Public Utilities 01/15/2022 Cothran, Saul, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering - Parking 01/15/2022 Butler, Alexis, Customer Service Representative, Utility Customer Service 02/14/2022 Burgett, Jennifer, Staff Assistant, Engineering — Stormwater 02/14/2022 Hopkinson, Karri, Gas Technician Apprentice, Gas 02/14/2022 Olson, Tyler, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 02/14/2022 Potter, Jordan, Crime Analyst, Police Department 02/14/2022 Chadwick, Evan, Crime Analyst, Police Department 02/14/2022 Klein, Janice, Crime Analyst, Police Department 02/14/2022 Rice, Lloyd, Recreation Leader, Parks & Recreation 02/14/2022 Member Hibbard 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 John Allen, Public Utilities Department, Benjamin Coccia, Planning and Development Department, Stephen Colbert, Fire Department, Patrick Conrey, Fire Department, Gerard Devivo, Fire Department, Eric Gandy, Police Department, Judith LaCosse, Official Records and Legislative Department, David Larremore, Engineering Department, Charles Jeffries, Public Utilities Department, Lance Kielich, General Service Department, Denis O'Connor, Fire Department, and Levi Outley, Parks and Recreation Department for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan. John Allen, Water Distribution Operator, Public Utilities Department, was employed by the City on September 23,1985, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective March 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $65,716.79 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Allen's selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $65,716.80 annually. Benjamin Coccia, Senior Plans Examiner, Planning and Development Department, was employed by the City on July 8, 1996, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective August 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $72,096.64 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Coccia's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $51,670.20 annually. Stephen Colbert, Fire Medic, Fire Department, was employed by the City on December 12, 1994, and his pension service credit is effective on that Page 3 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $93,228.62 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Colbert's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity with a 30% partial lump sum, this pension benefit will be approximately $47,594.40 annually. Patrick Conrey, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the City on October 16, 2000, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $108,351.24 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Conrey's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity with a 30% partial lump sum, this pension benefit will be approximately $43,578.96 annually. Gerard Devivo, Fire Medic, 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, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $88,194.30 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Devivo's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $57,722.80 annually. Eric Gandy, Police Deputy Chief, Police Department, was employed by the City on July 29, 1991, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective March 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $135,982.88 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Gandy's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $111,732.48 annually. Judith LaCosse, Staff Assistant, Official Records and Legislative Department, was employed by the City on February 10, 2003, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be effective April 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $36,097.06 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. LaCosse's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $18,928.64 annually. David Larremore, Traffic Engineering Analyst, Engineering Department, was employed by the City on March 30, 1998, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective November 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $66,325.00 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Larremore's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $44,762.52 annually. Charles Jeffries, Water Distribution Operator Lead, Public Utilities Department, was employed by the City on January 14, 1991, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective Page 4 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 February 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $54,564.65 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Jeffries' selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $43,538.88 annually. Lance Kielich, Fleet Operations Trainer, General Services Department, was employed by the City on February 11, 2002, and his pension service credit is effective on June 14, 2002. His pension will be effective February 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $47,665.73 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Kielich selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $25,731.84 annually. Denis O'Connor, Firefighter, Fire Department, was employed by the City on September 24, 2001, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $78,118.20 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. O'Connor's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity with a 30% partial lump sum, this pension benefit will be approximately $29,849.40 annually. Levi Outley, Senior Parks Service Technician, Parks and Recreation Department, was employed by the City on September 15, 1997, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective April 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $40,426.18 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Outley's selection of the Single Life Annuity this pension benefit will be approximately $25,910.64 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. Allen, Mr. Coccia, Ms. Lacosse, Mr. Larremore, Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Kielich, and Mr. Outley have all 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. Colbert, Mr. Conrey, Mr. Devivo, Mr. Gandy, and Mr. O'Connor have all met the hazardous duty criteria. Page 5 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Member Bunker moved to recommend approval of the following request of employees John Allen, Public Utilities Department, Benjamin Coccia, Planning and Development Department, Stephen Colbert, Fire Department, Patrick Conrey, Fire Department, Gerard Devivo, Fire Department, Eric Gandy, Police Department, Judith LaCosse, Official Records and Legislative Department, David Larremore, Engineering Department, Charles Jeffries, Public Utilities Department, Lance Kielich, General Service Department, Denis O'Connor, Fire Department, and Levi Outley, 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. 4.3 Informal hearing for Jesse Myers request for job-connected disability pension Attorney for the Committee Stuart Kaufman reviewed Jesse Myers' application for a job-connected disability pension and requirements of the Code. According to Florida Statute 112.18, a hazardous duty employee's heart related disability is presumed to be service-connected unless proof is submitted re a pre-existing condition; Mr. Myers'employment physical showed no evidence of heart disease. None of the listed exclusions applied. Member Bunker moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the application, personnel file, interrogatories, medical records, and the IME. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Attorney Kaufman reviewed Mr. Myers'prognosis history and said the IME (Independent Medical Exam) doctor had determined that Mr. Myers had reached MMI (Maximum Medical Improvement) and was totally and permanently disabled from performing hazardous duties. The City would not contest the application. There was no expectation that Mr. Myers would return to work. Attorney Jason Fox, representing Mr. Myers, reviewed Mr. Myers'medical conditions and recommended approval of Mr. Myers'service-connected disability pension. Consensus was to act on the request. Member Newland moved that Jesse Myers met the requirements for a job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of an injury suffered or an illness contracted 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 or mental impairment, to render useful and efficient service as a police officer. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Page 6 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Mr. Myers was thanked for his service to the community and offered best wishes. 4.4 Informal hearing for Kurt Hentschel request for job-connected disability pension Attorney for the Committee Stuart Kaufman reviewed Kurt Hentschel's application for a job-connected disability pension and requirements of the Code. None of the listed exclusions applied. Attorney Tonya Oliver, representing Mr. Hentschel, said this week she had submitted a police investigation report into one of two incidences referenced in his case. Attorney Kaufman said he had reviewed the graphic file and opined the Committee did not need to review it or accept it into evidence. Member Hibbard moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the application, personnel file, interrogatories, medical records, and the IME, including the police report submitted this week by Attorney Oliver. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Attorney Kaufman summarized police incidents related to Mr. Hentschel's prognosis and reported his primary care doctor had determined he had reached MMI in June 2021. The IME doctor determined Mr. Hentschel was totally and permanently disabled from performing hazardous duties. The City terminated Mr. Hentschel for health reasons on November 2, 2021. Attorney Oliver discussed Mr. Hentschel's multiple awards for meritorious and distinguished service while working as a Clearwater Police Officer and reviewed his medical condition and incidents related to his disability. She requested the Committee approve Mr. Hentschel's service-connected disability pension. Attorney Kaufman said based on case law, the Committee cannot deny Mr. Hentschel's request for a disability pension as he was terminated due to his medical condition. Nothing in the record supported denial of a service- connected disability pension. Consensus was to act on the request. Member Record moved that Kurt Hentschel met the requirements for a job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of an injury suffered or an illness contracted 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 or mental impairment, to render useful and efficient service as a police officer. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Page 7 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Mr. Hentschel was thanked for his service to the community and offered best wishes. 4.5 Appoint 7th Committee Member Member Hamilton moved to reappoint Nathan Hightower as the 7th member of the PAC. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.6 Appoint Ellen Ayo, Kyle Mueller, John Klinefelter, Greg Bowen and Denise Balog to serve as the PAC Election Committee with John Klinefelter serving as Chairman. (employee only item) Member Newland moved to appoint Ellen Ayo, Kyle Mueller, John Klinefelter, Greg Bowen and Denise Balog to serve as the PAC Election Committee with John Klinefelter serving as Chair. The motion was duly seconded. Members Newland, Eversole, and Record voted "Aye." Motion carried unanimously. 5. Old Business Items: None. 6. Director's Report Human Resources Director Jennifer Poirrier said 2 disability cases were pending. Attorney Kaufman said re public safety employees, the Legislature amended the filing deadline for PTSD disability applications and took no action re COVID related disabilities. 7. Board Members to be Heard 8. Adjourn Attest: Board Reporte City of Clearwater Member Hamilton said today was his last meeting. He said it had been an honor to serve with Committee Members. The meeting adjourned at 9:31 a.m. Page 8 Chair, Pension Aisory Committee