09/09/1999PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 9, 1999
Present: Brian Aungst Chair/Mayor
J. B. Johnson Vice Chair/Commissioner – arrived 9:01 a.m.
Pat Greer Committee Member
Pat Shepler Committee Member – arrived 9:04 a.m.
Dick Fitzgerald Committee Member
Ed Hart Committee Member/Commissioner
Absent: Empty Seat Committee Member
Also Present: Paul O’Rourke Human Resources Administrator
Margie Simmons Financial Services Administrator
Lee Dehner Pension Advisory Committee Attorney Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
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 Hart moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 12, 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. Carole L. Ciokiewicz – Special Assistant to the City Manager, Police Department
2. Dennis L. Acker – Police Officer, Police Department
3. Leon D. Davis – Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste Department
Member Greer moved to approve a Years of Service Pension for Carole L. Ciokiewicz, Dennis L. Acker, and Leon D. Davis. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
b) Review and Action on Employee Requests to Vest Pensions:
1. Cindi R. Juster, Administrative Analyst - Fire Department
Cindi R. Juster has resigned her position after being employed by the City for more than 11 years. She will qualify to receive her pension beginning April 1, 2008.
AND
2. Sharon G. Walton, Risk Management Specialist - Finance Department
Sharon G. Walton has resigned her position after being employed by the City for more than 17 years. She will qualify to receive her pension beginning May 1, 2011.
Member Fitzgerald moved to approve the request by Cindi R. Juster and Sharon G. Walton to vest their Pensions. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
c) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members
As of September 2, 1999, the City has 1,651.9 FTEs and 1,750 budgeted positions.
In response to a question, Human Resources Administrator Paul O’Rourke said the listed new hires are permanent full-time. To achieve salary savings, many departments hold off filling
vacancies until 4th quarter. The City also has 10 temporary positions and some emergency workers, who are hired for a maximum of 6 months.
Staff is reviewing employment agreements with 12 contracted individuals to comply with IRS and Labor Department regulations. As these individuals do not qualify to be independent contractors,
no IRS 1099 Forms are filed. In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke said the City Manager approves the hiring of independent contractors. The City Commission approves any increases
in the number of permitted FTEs via the budget process. Financial Services Administrator Margie Simmons said the contracted individuals are paid as employees, with deductions, but do
not qualify for pension benefits. Some receive health benefits.
A list was requested of workers classified as temporary, emergency, and contract.
Member Hart moved to accept the following employees into membership in the Pension Plan:
Date of Pension
Employment Elig. Date
Dina Katsougrakis, Staff Assistant III Public Works 08/02/99 08/02/99
Gwen Hollander, Legal Assistant Legal Department 08/02/99 08/02/99
Theron Winston, Maintenance Worker I Solid Waste 08/02/99 08/02/99
Markus DeBose, Maintenance Worker I Parks & Recreation 08/02/99 08/02/99
Frank Whitney, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Jon Lopez, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Robert Keane, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Michael Jones, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Michael Hutto, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Jevon Graham, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Joseph Conners, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Willie Hoston, Sr., Maintenance Worker I Parks & Recreation 03/29/99 03/29/99
Matthew Johnson, Maintenance Worker I Parks & Recreation 06/21/99 06/21/99
Robert Smith, Custodial Worker Police Department 03/29/99 03/29/99
Michele Smith, Staff Assistant I Public Works 05/10/99 05/10/99
Brian Langille,Gas Program Specialist Gas Department 05/10/99 05/10/99
Kirkwood Hepburn, Maint. Worker II Solid Waste 07/03/99 07/03/99
David Yawn, Firefighter Fire Department 07/19/99 07/19/99
Robin Reed, Police Aide Police Department 05/24/99 05/24/99
Edward Tumber, Library Assistant Library 05/27/99 05/27/99
Robert Hanson, Administrative Analyst Fire Department 08/09/99 08/09/99
Kirk A. Smith, Maintenance Worker I Parks & Recreation 08/16/99 08/16/99
Steve Berenguer, WWTP Oper. Trainee Public Works 08/16/99 08/16/99
John H. Martin, Solid Waste Equip Oper Solid Waste 05/24/99 05/24/99
Willie Jones, Maintenance Worker II Parks & Recreation 07/03/99 07/03/99
Abraham Philipson, Survey Assistant Public Works 08/16/99 08/16/99
William Moran, Maintenance Worker I Parks & Recreation 08/30/99 08/30/99
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Pending/New Business
Mr. O’Rourke said PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) minutes now are distributed by e-mail to department directors and union presidents for posting. Staff will monitor the procedure
to see if it better meets the needs of pension participants.
ITEM #6 - Director's Reports
The next meeting is scheduled for October 14, 1999, at 9:00 a.m.
ITEM #7 - Board Members to be Heard
Member Hart said he had made some recommendations to the PAC attorneys regarding upgrading forms, including “Employees’ Separation Pay Preferences.” He
expressed concern forms become illegible after copying and recommended staff print each form separately from the word processor.
ITEM #8 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:09 a.m.