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07/11/1996 PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF CLEARWATER July 11, 1996 Present: Rita Garvey Chair/Mayor J. B. Johnson Vice Chair/Commissioner Richard Breest Committee Member Robert Clark Committee Member/Commissioner Pat Greer Committee Member Dick Fitzgerald Committee Member Empty Seat Committee Member Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Michael Laursen Human Resources Director Debbie Ford Human Resources Technician Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ' ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes Approval of June 13, 1996, minutes will be considered at the next meeting. ITEM #3 - Employees to be Heard a.) Pension Buy Back Requests Human Resources Director Mike Laursen distributed summaries regarding additional requests submitted prior to the July 3, 1996, deadline relating to possible buy backs of Pension service credit: 1) Charles Selby, Fire Lieutenant; 2) Len Marotta, Police Officer; 3) Peter Verhoeven, Firefighter; 4) Dan Carpenter, Accountant; 5) Tom Hackett, Water Superintendent; 6) Richard Beery - Police Officer; 7) Rosalie Backus, Customer Service Representative; 8) Robert Maran, Engineer III; 9) Nelson McCoy, Gas Technician III; and 10) Georgette Summarell, Senior Police Communications Operator. Mr. Laursen indicated a method of closure for buy-back requests should be established. No responses have been received from employees who were provided actuary information. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides will review each buy-back request and forward her recommendations to the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee). She suggested the PAC make a written determination regarding each request. The PAC may feel it is not appropriate to process some requests. Mr. Laursen reviewed Charles Selby's request to transfer from the "old" firefighters' pension plan. Mr. Selby did not exercise his option to transfer to the Employees' Pension Plan when he had an opportunity to do so years ago. The PAC concurred with Mr. Laursen and Ms. Dougall-Sides that the PAC not consider Mr. Selby's request. Mr. Laursen reported receiving a request from Tom Taggart of the Police Department dated July 3, 1996, but stamped "Received" by Human Resources on July 10, 1996. He felt Mr. Taggart's request does not qualify for a buy-back as his request refers to his part-time employment. Part-time employees are not eligible to be in the Pension Plan. The PAC concurred In reference to Tom Hackett's request, Mr. Laursen noted the PAC already had determined employees could not buy benefits for the first 6 months of employment. Consensus was that applicants who were provided actuary numbers be contacted regarding a 30-day deadline for submitting a response regarding their intent to proceed. For new requests, the same deadline will accompany actuary numbers when they are sent. Concern was expressed some employees may have received the July 1996, City Reflections, publicizing Pension buy-back information, after the deadline. The newsletter was distributed in the Municipal Services Building on July 2, 1996. Information regarding this issue had been sent earlier via several memorandums. It was determined that Ms. Dougall-Sides will review the buy-back requests presented to the PAC today. Actuary numbers will be ordered for requests that appear to be appropriate. Ms. Dougall-Sides will direct notice to employees whose requests are inappropriate, explaining that determination, and forwarding copies to the PAC. Ms. Dougall-Sides will bring questionable requests back to the PAC. Consensus was that employees must indicate their intent regarding buy-backs in writing within 30 days of receiving their actuarial numbers. Mr. Laursen will send a memorandum to those already provided actuarial numbers indicating their written determination is due within 30 days of the memorandum's date. ITEM #4 - Action Items a) Review and action on Employee Requests for Years of Service Pension 1) Edmund K. Walther - Police Officer, Police Department - 20 years of service designation - hazardous duty provision Member Greer moved to approve a 20 Years of Service Pension for Edmund K. Walther. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 2) James Gravely - Police Officer, Police Department - 20 years of service designation - hazardous duty provision Member Fitzgerald moved to approve a 20 Years of Service Pension for James Gravely. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. b) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members Mr. Laursen said he had reviewed all physician recommendations and reported all listed new hires meet Pension Plan criteria. Member Johnson moved to accept the following employees into membership in the Pension Plan: Date of Pension Employment Elig. Date. Karen Cooper, Staff Assistant II Human Relations Dept. 09/18/95 06/10/96 Theresa Ferguson, Staff Assistant II Community Resp. Dept. 06/19/96 06/19/96 Jeff Jeffcoat, Tradesworker I General Services Dept. 04/15/96 04/15/96 Terri Ralat, Staff Assistant II Solid Waste Department 06/10/96 06/10/96 Terry Washington, Solid Waste Wrkr Solid Waste Department 05/13/96 05/13/96 Jennifer Woods, Recreation Specialist Parks & Recreation Dept 06/10/96 06/10/96 Steve Wright, Public Wrks Svc Wrkr I Public Works Dept. 06/24/96 06/24/96 The motion was duly seconded carried unanimously. ITEM #5 - Pending/New Business Mr. Laursen said staff has met to discuss Lois Maroon's request, but is not prepared to make a recommendation. Ms. Maroon has been advised. Member Clark announced he will not attend the August 8, 1996, meeting. ITEM #6 - Director's Reports Mr. Laursen said a television investigative report regarding City Spray Technicians and relating to David Ford's pension was broadcast last week. Mr. Laursen said 5 years ago, Joe Egger vested his Pension when he left the City after working more than 10 years for the Police Department. He has returned to work as a new Police Officer. Mr. Laursen requested Ms. Dougall-Sides review the issue about being in the Pension Plan and being vested and provide the PAC a legal opinion as to appropriate action. Mr. Laursen reported he sent a memorandum to Raymond Kaval regarding his June 11, 1996, buy-back request. When he was hired, Mr. Kaval was older than 45 and did not qualify to join the Pension Plan. The memorandum referred to the City's historical position that the Pension Plan's previous age requirement did not constitute discrimination under provisions of the Age Discrimination Act. Member Johnson moved to ratify Mr. Laursen's July 2, 1996, memorandum to Raymond Kaval indicating a Pension buy-back is not consistent with his request. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #7 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.