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09/11/1997 PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER September 11, 1997 Present: Rita Garvey Chair/Mayor Robert Clark Committee Member/Commissioner Pat Shepler Committee Member Pat Greer Committee Member Dick Fitzgerald Committee Member John Scacca Committee Member Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Michael Laursen Human Resources Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter Absent: J. B. Johnson Vice Chair/Commissioner The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 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 Member Clark moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 14, 1997, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 - Employees to be Heard - None. ITEM #4 - Action Items a) Review and Action on Employee Requests for Years of Service Pension 1) John P. Geisel, Jr. - Gas Service Supervisor, Gas Department 2) Donald A. Meerians, - Assistant Traffic Engineer, Engineering Department Member Fitzgerald moved to approve Years of Service Pensions for John P. Geisel, Jr. and Donald A. Meerians. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. b) Review and Action on Employee Request to Vest Pension 1) Terence C. Jennings - Chief Engineer, Engineering Department Terence C. Jennings has resigned after 21 ½ years of service and has requested vesting his pension. Member Clark moved to approve the request by Terence C. Jennings to vest his Pension. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Human Resources Director Michael Laursen reported procedures are being drafted to address vesting requirements. c) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members Mr. Laursen said according to the physician recommendations, the listed new hires meet Pension Plan criteria. In response to a question regarding the date an employee changed from part-time to full-time status, he stated this action is common in the Police Department’s Communication operations which employ full-time and part-time positions in the same class. He believed some employees previously had switched to part-time positions to recoup their Pension Plan contributions. The Police Department is working to prevent unnecessary changes. Some employees switch to part-time positions due to childbirth, etc., which are legitimate reasons for change. This flexibility allows the City to retain highly skilled operators. Many departments have part-time positions and also are affected by this concern. Member Fitzgerald moved to accept the following employees into membership in the Pension Plan: Date of Pension Employment Elig. Date. Kenneth Cotton, Maintenance Wrkr I Solid Waste Department 08/04/97 08/04/97 Michael Vaillancourt, Welder Solid Waste Department 08/04/97 08/04/97 Tim Keene, Groundskeeper I Parks & Recreation Dept 08/04/97 08/04/97 James Jackson, Maintenance Wrkr I Parks & Recreation Dept 08/04/97 08/04/97 Robert Carpenter, Maint. Worker II Parks & Recreation Dept 08/04/97 08/04/97 David Veile, WWTP Operator Trainee Engineering Department 08/04/97 08/04/97 Jere Jones, WWTP Operator Trainee Engineering Department 08/04/97 08/04/97 Allen Mardis, Human Res. Specialist OED Department 08/18/97 08/18/97 Johnnie McFarlane, Maint. Worker I Solid Waste Department 08/18/97 08/18/97 Kelly Myrick, Staff Assistant II Police Department 06/23/97 06/23/97 Jeanmarie Kabala, Comp. Ed. Coord. Information Mgmt. 07/14/97 07/14/97 Shawna Service, Police Comm. Oper. Police Department 04/07/86 07/07/97 The motion was duly seconded carried unanimously. ITEM #5 - Pending/New Business a) Discussion Re: Pension Physicals Mr. Laursen presented a brief overview of the proposal to transfer the cost of pre-employment physicals from the City to the Pension Plan. Physicals are used to confirm new hires’ ability to handle their positions’ physical requirements and to determine their eligibility to join the Pension Plan. The former City Manager had supported changing the funding from the City to the Pension Plan. Mr. Laursen said of local governments contacted by staff, 5 had no physical requirement for pension plan participation. The sixth government, the City of Largo, pays all costs for physicals. It was noted Deputy City Manager Kathy Rice had recommended no action be taken regarding this issue. Mr. Laursen recommended continuing the requirement for physicals as the City needs to know new employees are physically able to handle their positions and physicals identify preexisting conditions for the Pension Plan. He recommended no change to the current practice of the City paying for physicals. This issue can be brought back if staff deems it should be explored again. b) Discussion Re: Receipt of Letter concerning David Ford In her August 14, 1997, Zan S. Barber, representative for David Ford, requested scheduling a date to address and resolve his Pension claim that his disability should be considered job-connected. Mr. Laursen reported David Ford, a former Spray Technician with the Parks & Recreation Department, had appeared before the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) and requested a job-connected disability. The PAC did not think sufficient evidence had been presented to support that claim. The PAC approved a non-job connected disability for Mr. Ford with a provision that he could submit further evidence supporting his claim that his disability is job-connected. Ms. Barber requested an opportunity to present his argument to the PAC. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides said a procedure is in place to address disability issues and suggested the applicant submit a Supplemental Disability Request Packet. In response to a question, Mr. Laursen stated although Risk Management Specialist-Workers Compensation Jon Marcin and Risk Manager Leo Schrader could better address this issue, he understood the City’s settlement of a Worker’s Compensation claim filed by Mr. Ford does not acknowledge any relationship between his disability and job. Ms. Dougall-Sides said payment was made in exchange for Mr. Ford dropping his Worker’s Compensation claim. Mr. Laursen suggested forwarding to Ms. Barber the standard disability packet, with the supplemental application. Ms. Dougall-Sides said the applicant only needs to submit new information and documentation and is not required to respond to questions or include copies of information previously provided. After the information is submitted, additional Legal Department interrogatories may be required. In response to a question, Mr. Laursen said he believed the State of Florida had reviewed the Parks & Recreation Department’s spray procedures and found them to be satisfactory. If that is the case, he will provide the PAC a copy of that report. It was recommended staff search all Worker’s Compensation claims filed by Mr. Ford to review documented exposure during specific occurrences. It was noted the doctor’s finding of chemical irritation of Mr. Ford’s lungs could be related to home exposure. Consensus was for Mr. Laursen to send Ms. Barber a letter informing her of the procedure. ITEM #6 - Director's Reports The next PAC meeting is scheduled for October 9, 1997. Mr. Laursen reported Member Johnson cannot attend the next meeting and had questioned if the meeting date could be changed. It was determined a change would cause other absences. Consensus was to not change the October meeting date. ITEM #7 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.