10/13/2022 - Special Meeting Pension Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 13, 2022
9:00 AM
Special Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member Mark Bunker, Committee
Member Frank Hibbard, Committee Member Christopher Kakalow,
Committee Member Gregory Record, and Committee Member David
Sowers
Absent 1 - Committee Member Lina Teixeira
Also Present— David Margolis — City Attorney, Jennifer Poirrier—Assistant City
Manager, Billie Kirkpatrick - Acting 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 July 14, 2022 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member Hibbard moved to approve minutes of July 14, 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 Classification & Department. Pension Eligibility Date
Jacob Walser, Police Officer, Police 7/2/2022
Leslie Walbolt, Librarian, Library 7/2/2022
Joel Nina, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
Michele Perry, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
Jonathan Mitchell, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
David Kidd, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
Jarrett Forstell, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
Monika Szwakop, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
David Sechrist, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
Owen Reich, Police Officer, Police 7/5/2022
Jeffrey McManus, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 7/5/2022
Pietrina Cacioppo, Administrative Assistant, City Manager's Office 7/5/2022
Joshua Sexton, Parking Enforcement Specialist, Engineering/Parking 7/5/2022
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
Matthew Sammel, Marine Facility Operator - Pier 60, Parks & Recreation 7/5/2022
Ariana Amoroso, Aquatics Coordinator, Parks & Recreation 7/5/2022
Gary Schaaf, Code Enforcement Inspector. Planning & Development 7/5/2022
Robert Sfero, Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 7/5/2022
D'Qjuwan Collins, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 7/5/2022
Jermaine Francis, Traffic Engineering Analyst, Engineering/Traffic 7/5/2022
Betsy Cook, Personnel/Payroll Technician, Parks & Recreation 7/5/2022
Sean Cox, Lead Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 7/18/2022
Erin Murphy-Johns, Police Telecom municator, Police 7/18/2022
Morgan Knowlton, Police Telecommunicator, Police 7/18/2022
Kevin Trapp, Recreation Center Manager, Parks & Recreation 7/18/2022
Amber Brice, Library Programming Specialist, Library 7/18/2022
Casey Ray, Police Cadet, Police 8/1/2022
Vickie Shire, CRA Event Specialist, Community Redevelopment Agency 8/1/2022
Jacqueline LopezDiez, Customer Service Rep., Customer Service 8/1/2022
Vernice Sanchez, Customer Service Representative, Customer Service 8/1/2022
Andrew Chambers, Customer Service Representative, Customer Service 8/1/2022
Peter Filipovits, Police Telecom municator, Police 8/1/2022
Chris Plempel. Water Distribution Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 8/1/2022
Jared Walker, Lead Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 8/1/2022
Cynthia Blackwell, Customer Service Rep., Utility Customer Service 8/15/2022
Lisa Liinangi, Customer Service Representative, Utility Customer Service 8/15/2022
Vincent Mattioli, Meter Reader, Utility Customer Service 8/15/2022
Tim Hancock, Beach Lifeguard, Fire 8/15/2022
William Evans, Skilled Tradesworker, Parks & Recreation 8/15/2022
Edwin Diaz Gonzalez, Planner, Planning 8/15/2022
Amanda Zabytko, Senior Library Assistant, Library Department 8/15/2022
Courtney Holzwarth, Senior Staff Assistant, Economic Dev/City Clerk 8/22/2022
Christopher Boyle, Stormwater Technician, Engineering/Stormwater 8/29/2022
Dwayne Floyd, Gas Technician Apprentice, Gas 8/29/2022
Earl Swift 111, Recreation Supervisor—Athletics, Parks & Recreation 8/29/2022
Cory Dunbar, Recreation Supervisor - Special Events, Parks & Recreation 8/29/2022
Richard Kelly, Lead Streets & Sidewalks Technician, Parks & Recreation 8/29/2022
Ruth Willis, Recreation Leader, Parks & Recreation 8/29/2022
Thea French, Planner, Planning & Development 8/29/2022
Danny McDonnell, Land Development Arborist, Planning & Development 8/29/2022
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 April Eversole, Finance
Department and Elmer Foster, Parks and Recreation Department to vest their pension as
provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
April Eversole, Senior Accounting Technician, Finance Department,
was employed by the City on July 25, 2005 and her pension service credit is
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
effective on that date. Ms. Eversole terminated from City employment on
July 8, 2022.
Elmer Foster, Senior Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation
Department, was employed by the City on January 22, 2007 and his
pension service credit is effective on that date. Mr. Foster terminated from
City employment on August 4, 2022.
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. Ms. Eversole will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in August 2025.
Mr. Foster will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a
pension in February 2027.
Member Hibbard moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees April Eversole, Finance Department and
Elmer Foster, Parks and Recreation 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 William (Keith) Dauber, Customer
Service Department, Joyce Hunt, General Services Department, Charles Shuman,
General Services Department, and Brian Swartz, Fire Department for a regular pension
as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
William (Keith) Dauber, Business System Analyst, Customer Service
Department, was employed by the City on August 4, 1986, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective October
17 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $54,232.00 over the
past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Dauber's
selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Life Annuity, this pension benefit
will be approximately $51,465.84 annually.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
Joyce Hunt, Senior Accountant, General Services Department, was
employed by the City on October 22, 2001, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective September 1, 2022.
Based on an average salary of approximately $58,306.52 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Hunt's selection
of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$33,395.88 annually.
Charles Shuman, Mechanic Fabricator, General Services Department,
was employed by the City on September 20, 2004, and his pension service
credit is effective on October 30, 2006. His pension will be effective
September 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately
$44,835.86 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular
pensions and Mr. Shuman's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension
benefit will be approximately $19,440.00 annually.
Brian Swartz, Firefighter, Fire Department, was employed by the City on
June 3, 2002, 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 $73,300.08 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Swartz's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $39,763.44 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. Dauber, Ms. Hunt, and Mr.
Shuman 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. Swartz has met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Record moved to recommend approval of the following
request of William (Keith) Dauber, Customer Service Department,
Joyce Hunt, General Services Department, Charles Shuman,
General Services Department, and Brian Swartz, Fire 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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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
4.4 Informal hearing for Jose Fernandez request for job-connected disability pension
The City Attorney reviewed the Code. Jose Fernandez was hired by the City
as a Firefighter in March 2005. In late 2021, Mr. Fernandez was absent from
work under FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). In early 2022, the Human
Resources Department advised him he would be terminated if he did not
return to work. On March 4, 2022, Mr. Fernandez applied for a disability
pension. He was separated from the City on March 21, 2022 after 17 years
of service. He is collecting early retirement benefits.
Member Bunker moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive
of the application, personnel file, interrogatories, medical records, and
the IME (Independent Medical Exam). The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
Attorney Tonya Oliver, representing Jose Fernandez, said his personnel
record showed good reviews and no sick days between 2007 and 2020 in
spite of his medical issues. She said his injuries were work related. She said
the IME doctor determined Mr. Fernandez was permanently disabled with no
other cause except his firefighter duties. She said no one event caused Mr.
Fernandez's disability but his continuous work aggravated and accelerated
his lumbar displacement.
Discussion ensued with comments that the report clearly indicates Mr.
Fernandez's disability was caused by a culmination of activity, he cannot
perform his duties as a firefighter, and he has reached maximum medical
improvement. It was requested that future IME reports state if an applicant's
disability is permanent.
Attorney Oliver said Mr. Fernandez is seeking treatment but nothing can
restore his ability to be a firefighter.
Member Hibbard moved that Jose Fernandez met the requirements for
a job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of 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 firefighter. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
The PAC thanked Mr. Fernandez for his service and hard work and wished
him the best.
5. Old Business Items: None.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
6. Director's Report
Special Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022
Assistant City Manager Jennifer Poirier said she is now Assistant City
Manager. She thanked the Committee for their service and introduced
Interim Human Resources Director Billie Kirkpatrick.
Member Hibbard congratulated both on their promotions.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Member Sowers introduced himself.
Member Hibbard requested new PAC members be provided orientation that
reviews committee member responsibilities.
Member Hibbard requested a software upgrade that is easy for PAC
members to use when reviewing disability reports; the current program is
difficult to download, unwieldy to use, and impossible to bookmark and set
tabs. He recommended budgeting for an ungraded program as the current
one is unacceptable.
Consensus was to upgrade the software program.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
61
Attest:
L/Dk
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Bo eporter
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City of Clearwater
Chair, Pension Adv,qsory Committee