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11/09/2000PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER November 9, 2000 Present: Brian Aungst Chair/Mayor J. B. Johnson Vice Chair/Commissioner Dick Fitzgerald Committee Member Pat Greer Committee Member Ed Hart Committee Member/Commissioner John Schmalzbauer Committee Member John Lee Committee Member Also Present: Paul O’Rourke Human Resources Administrator Margie Simmons Financial Services Administrator Lee Dehner Pension Advisory Committee Attorney – arrived 9:11 a.m. Debbie Ford Human Resources Analyst Brenda Moses 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 of October 12, 2000 Member Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 12, 2000, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded. In reference to Item #5b, page three, paragraph one, sentence four, Member Fitzgerald suggested staff’s stated recommendation differs from what was proposed. Staff will review the item to ensure accuracy. Member Johnson rescinded his motion and the seconder agreed. Consensus was to postpone approval of the October 12, 2000, minutes until the next meeting. ITEM 3 - Employees to be Heard – None. ITEM 4 - Action Items a) Review and Action on Employee Request for Years of Service Pension 1. Helga Lanier, Accountant – Public Works 2. Gail-Patricia Greer, Administrative Support Manager – Public Works 3. Richard D. Wilson, Police Lieutenant – Police Department 4. Linda Konga, Police Officer – Police Department Member Fitzgerald moved to approve the request by Helga Lanier, Gail-Patricia Greer, Richard D. Wilson, and Linda Konga for a Years of Service Pension. The motion was duly seconded. Members Johnson, Fitzgerald, Hart, Schmalzbauer, Lee, and Chair Aungst voted “aye”. Member Greer abstained. Motion carried. b) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members As of November 1, 2000, the City had 1678.1 FTEs and 1,795.6 budgeted positions (including the City Commission). In response to a question, Human Resources Administrator Paul O’Rourke said the listed police personnel are new hires. The Police Department generally fills open positions in the latter part of the year due to salary savings requirements. This year, the City has 16.1 more FTEs than last year. Last month’s numbers had indicated it was 19.5. During the year, the City approves FTEs at various times, causing the numbers to fluctuate. In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke said the 34.15 personnel listed as new hires include full-time and part-time positions. Part-time staff is not eligible to join the Pension Plan. Only 27 employees on the list are eligible for the Pension Plan. Most listed terminations/retirements relate to part-time staff. Many part-time positions are terminated in the fall. The Parks and Recreation Department will rehire in June for summer positions. In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke felt staff has completed the process to determine how many employees had worked full-time and were eligible for pension participation. Staff has changed the pay plan to identify part-time employees and will monitor it to ensure no future violations occur. Member Johnson moved to accept the following employees into membership in the Pension Plan: Date of Pension Employment Elig. Date Hemlata Iyengar, System Analyst/Programmer II/Info. Tech. 10/02/00 10/02/00 William Stringfellow, Police Aide/Police 11/22/99 09/23/00* Chase L. Vaccaro, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Sherry Watkins, Development Review Tech I/Plan & Dev. Svc. 10/09/00 10/09/00 Jason R. Jones, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Diane Luniewski, Police Communications Op. Trainee/Police 03/01/99 10/07/00** Sandy Warner, Police Communications Operator/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Kerri Spaulding, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Christine Biermann, Library Assistant/Library 10/09/00 10/09/00 Kevin Klein, Police Communications Operator Trainee/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Carol Buck, Library Assistant/Library 10/09/00 10/09/00 John Haggart, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 William Higginbotham III, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Jeffrey M. Smith, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Lenshawn Price, Police Recruit/Police 10/09/00 10/09/00 Paul Mack, Parks Service Technician I/Parks & Recreation 10/17/00 10/17/00 Alex Monte, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Todd Archer, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Pete Georgantas, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Patrick Conrey, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Paul Capo, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Christopher Hoyne, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Michael Hendry, Firefighter/Fire 10/16/00 10/16/00 Brian Miller, Field Service Representative/Customer Service 10/09/00 10/09/00 John Gozzi, Custodial Worker/Marine 10/23/00 10/23/00 Gail Rina, Staff Assistant I/Customer Service 10/23/00 10/23/00 Brent Hazzard, Parks Service Technician I/Parks & Recreation 10/22/00 10/22/00 * Originally hired part-time on 11/22/99; status changed to full-time and pension eligible as of 9/23/00. ** Originally hired part-time on 3/01/99; status changed to full-time and pension eligible as of 9/23/00. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 5 - Pending/New Business Barbara Metzger – Waiver of IME and Occupational Assessment Barbara Metzger has been employed since February 22, 1980, and has participated in the Pension Plan since July 22, 1985. In February, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and has been under treatment since then. The cancer has now metastasized to her liver and brain and the doctors have stated that she is permanently unable to work in any capacity and has been referred for hospice care. Her condition is terminal. Staff is requesting that the IME (Independent Medical Examination) and functional capacity tests required under the Committee’s Policies and Procedures be waived in an effort to accelerate the approval process. PAC Attorney Lee Dehner said Ms. Metzger’s medical records reflect her serious medical condition. He said the related ordinance indicates a participant shall not be eligible for disability benefits until the person undergoes an IME (independent medical examination) by a qualified physician selected by the PAC. He said the PAC does not have the authority to waive that requirement. He recommended the examination be scheduled soon. It was requested the IME be scheduled immediately. Member Schmalzbauer moved that the PAC select one of her physicians that have already examined her to be designated as the IME doctor. Mr. Dehner said the physician who performs the IME cannot be one of Ms. Metzger’s personal physicians. He said the proposed changes to the Plan will provide the PAC with the option to designate a personal physician to waive the IME. In response to a question, he said the current ordinance requires an IME examination, not just a review of the medical records. Mr. Dehner recommended the PAC’s motion include contingency language to award disability benefits contingent upon the IME being performed and the findings being consistent with the treating physician’s report, and that the effective date on that report would be the date used to calculate the payments. Concern was expressed that method would not expedite the payments to the family. Member Lee moved to approve the request for disability benefits for Barbara Metzger contingent upon the date of the IME if findings are consistent with her attending physicians’ reports and for that date to be used to calculate payments. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 6 - Director's Reports Mr. Dehner said a disability claim filed by Johnnie Jackson is being processed. ITEM 7 - Committee Members to be Heard Member Greer said she hopes the rewrite of the Pension Ordinance will eliminate the IME standard that penalizes the employee and family during tragic situations. It was felt that the PAC should have some flexibility to make appropriate decisions under dire circumstances. Mr. Dehner said the revised ordinance will include such provisions. In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke said the vacant PAC seat will be addressed in January 2001. The next PAC meeting is scheduled for December 14, 2000. ITEM 8 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:29 a.m.