08/12/1999PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 12, 1999
Present: Brian Aungst Chair/Mayor
J. B. Johnson Vice Chair/Commissioner
Pat Greer Committee Member
Ed Hart Committee Member/Commissioner
Absent: Pat Shepler Committee Member
Dick Fitzgerald Committee Member
Empty Seat Committee Member
Also Present: Paul O’Rourke Human Resources Administrator
Margie Simmons Financial Services Administrator
Debbie Ford Administrative Analyst
Lee Dehner Pension Advisory Committee Attorney Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 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
In reference to page 5, paragraph 3, sentence 3, Human Resources Administrator Paul O’Rourke noted the opinion stated did not reflect the consensus of all members.
Member Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 14, 1999, 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 Pensions:
1. Sara Ruby – Human Relations Manager, Human Relations Department
Member Greer moved to approve a Years of Service Pension for Sara Ruby. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
b) Review and Action on Employee Requests to Vest Pensions:
1. James Lewin, Sr.– Gas Operations & Marketing Director, Gas Department
James Lewin, Sr. has resigned his position after being employed by the City for more than 24 years. He will qualify to receive his pension beginning March 1, 2005.
AND
2. Eugene M. Tobias, Jr.– Police Officer, Police Department
Eugene M. Tobias, Jr. has resigned his position after being employed by the City for more than 10 years. He will qualify to receive his reduced pension beginning April 1, 2009.
Member Johnson moved to approve the request by James Lewin, Sr, and Eugene M. Tobias, Jr. to vest their Pensions. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
c) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members
As of August 5, 1999, the City has 1,651.9 FTEs and 1,750 budgeted positions. In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke indicated the City has 100 vacant positions. New hires replace
positions that have been vacant for a period of time.
Member Greer moved to accept the following employees into membership in the Pension Plan:
Date of Pension
Employment Elig. Date
Tony Simotes, Gas Technician I Gas Department 07/06/99 07/06/99
Kathy LaBelle, Customer Service Rep. Solid Waste 07/06/99 07/06/99
Michael T. Conley, Mechanic II General Support 07/14/99 07/14/99
Jeffrey Lucas, Construction Inspector I Public Works 07/19/99 07/19/99
Robert Ackerman, Bldg Const. Inspector I Planing & Dev..Svcs. 07/19/99 07/19/99
Stacy Attwill, WWTP Operator Trainee Public Works 07/19/99 07/19/99
David Buchholz, Sr., Marine Life Guard Marine 07/17/99 07/17/99
Christalyn Johnson, Plc Comm. Oper Trne Police Department 06/21/99 06/21/99
Kimberly Jones, Police Comm Operator Police Department 06/21/99 06/21/99
Lucas Semple, Senior Marine Life Guard Marine 07/17/99 07/17/99
Matt Carpenter, Meter Reader I Customer Service 07/19/99 07/19/99
Daniel Campbell, Maintenance Worker I Solid Waste 05/08/99 05/08/99
Shawn Daniels, Maintenance Worker I Solid Waste 05/22/99 05/22/99
Rachel Batten, Staff Assistant I Legal Department 05/10/99 05/10/99
Kelly Hammer-Levy, Utilities Chemist Public Works 07/06/99 07/06/99
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Pending/New Business
Pension Advisory Committee Attorney Lee Dehner indicated David Krieger’s attorney had filed suit in Circuit Court related to his request to reestablish his pension credit. Mr. Dehner
stated his firm’s expertise is pension plans, not litigation. He recommended his firm act as co-
counsel with an experienced litigator and that a motion to dismiss be filed. An Assistant City Attorney has filed this motion.
Financial Services Administrator Margie Simmons reported the August 23, 1999, meeting to review new State legislation will be rescheduled.
ITEM #6 - Director's Reports
The next meeting is scheduled for September 9, 1999, at 9:00 a.m.
Mr. O’Rourke reported Donald O. Parker has withdrawn his request for a Years of Service Pension. The PAC had approved the request on July 14, 1999.
Former Committee Member Sharon Walton has resigned. An election will be held September 21, 1999, for a replacement.
Mr. O’Rourke said due to staff oversight, Mr. Dehner’s firm was not scheduled to attend Monday’s Pension Trustees meeting.
ITEM #7 - Board Members to be Heard
Member Hart offered to work with staff to expand agenda information.
Member Greer expressed concern the Action Agendas, distributed to City departments, do not provide adequate information to Pension members. Concern was expressed distributing 135 copies
of meeting minutes will waste resources. Mr. O’Rourke will put forward a recommendation.
ITEM #8 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:16 a.m.