02/29/2024 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 29, 2024
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 29, 2024
9:00 AM
Special Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 29, 2024
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member Christopher Kakalow,
Committee Member David Sowers, Committee Member Gregory
Record, Committee Member Lina Teixeira, Committee Member Juliet
Marvenko, and Committee Member Mark Bunker
Also Present— David Margolis — City Attorney, Tiffany Makras - Human Resources
Director, and Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Main Library.
2. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
3. New Business Items
3.1 Formal hearing for Nicholas Giordano request for job-connected disability pension
The City Attorney said the Committee heard deliberation of the case on
January 11, 2024 and there was no consensus one way or the other for
disposition.
Attorney Paul Daragjati, representing Applicant Nicholas Giordano, and
Attorney Mark Hungate, representing the City of Clearwater, gave brief
summaries of the information presented at the January 11, 2024 hearing.
The City Attorney said there seems to be consensus of both attorney's
that the Applicant is unable to continue work as a police officer. The
disagreement is the nature of the condition. He said the factual question
is what heart condition, if any, does the Applicant have and is it the
contributing cause of disability.
In response to questions, Mr. Giordano said he never had another
arrythmia issue after the initial event. He said he has two cardiologist who
have prescribed blood pressure medication and a beta blocker. He said
he does not take a medication for the arrythmia because the cause of it is
not known. The hypertension was diagnosed in 2022. He said on the
days when he had issues, he came to work feeling fine but physical
exertion caused symptoms.
Member Sowers moved that Nicholas Giordano 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 or firefighter. The
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes February 29, 2024
motion was duly seconded and carried with the following vote:
Ayes 5 - Member Kakalow, Member Sowers, Member Bunker, Member
Record, and Member Marvenko
Nays 2 - Chair Hightower and Member Teixeira
The Chair thanked Mr. Giordano for his service.
4. Board Members to be Heard: None.
5. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:07 a.m.
Chair, Pension Advisory Committee
Attest:
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City of Clearwater