07/12/2001PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 12, 2001
Present: Dick Fitzgerald Chair
Whitney Gray Vice Chair /Commissioner
John Lee Committee Member
Ed Hart Committee Member/Commissioner
Tom Jensen Committee Member
Absent: John Schmalzbauer Committee Member
Bill Jonson Committee Member/Commissioner
Also Present: Paul O’Rourke Human Resources Administrator
Debbie Ford Human Resources Analyst
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
A typo was noted. It was requested distributed minutes be printed on two sides.
Member Hart moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 14, 2001, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
ITEM #4 - Employees to be Heard - None.
ITEM #5 - Action Items
a) Review and Action on Employee Requests for Years of Service Pension
1. Jeffrey C. Daniels - Firefighter, Fire Department
2. Leonard Marotta – Police Sergeant, Police Department
3. Eddie L. Griffin- Police Sergeant, Police Department
Member Lee moved to approve a Years of Service Pension for Jeffrey C. Daniels, Leonard Marotta, and Eddie L. Griffin. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
b) Review and Action on Employee Request to Vest Pension
1. James J. Hill – Communications Technician, General Support Services
James J. Hill has resigned his position after being employed by the City for more than 12 years. He will qualify to receive his reduced pension beginning June 1, 2009.
Member Jensen moved to approve the request by James J. Hill to vest his Pension. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
c) Approval of New Hires as Pension Plan Members
As of July 5, 2001, the City had 1701.89 FTEs out of 1799.3 budgeted positions. Antonio Green originally was hired as part-time; transferred to full-time and pension eligible as of
June 16, 2001.
Member Gray moved to accept the following employees into membership in the Pension Plan:
Date of Pension Employment Elig. Date
Daniel Toro, Mechanic II General Support Services 06/05/01 06/05/01
Anthony Suggs, Field Svc. Representative Customer Service 06/04/01 06/04/01
Connie Tuisku, Librarian I Library 06/04/01 06/04/01
Robert Sullivan, Network Anaylst Information Technology 06/04/01 06/04/01
Richard Bunton, Public Utilities Tech I Public Utilities 06/18/01 06/18/01
Andrea Boss, Customer Service Rep. Public Services 06/18/01 06/18/01
Raymond Minniefield, Public Util. Tech I Public Utilities 06/18/01 06/18/01
Dennis Britt, Public Services Tech I Public Services 06/18/01 06/18/01
Kathleen McCauley, Pol. Comm Oper. Tne Police Department 06/18/01 06/18/01
Thomas Fears, Engineer II Public Works 06/25/01 06/25/01
Antonio Green, Solid Waste Equip. Oper. Solid Waste 01/18/00 06/16/01
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Pending/New Business
a) Integrated Disability Management Presentation
It was recommended this presentation be postponed until all members are present. It was requested background information be distributed to all members before August’s meeting.
Member Gray moved to continue the presentation on Integrated Disability Management to August 9, 2001. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #6 - Director's Reports
Human Resources Administrator Paul O’Rourke and committee members welcomed Tom Jensen and congratulated John Schmalzbauer on his reappointment. Mr. Jensen has been designated as a
Certified Public Pension Trustee.
Mr. O’Rourke reported Pension Advisory Committee Attorney Lee Dehner was unable to attend today’s meeting.
Pre-litigation request re. Police Chief Sid Klein
In his June 28, 2001 letter regarding a request to the City Attorney by Andra T. Dreyfus, attorney for Police Chief Sid Klein, Stephen H. Cypen, of Cypen & Cypen, opined that Chief
Klein has no further administrative or other remedies concerning his claim to be included in the City’s Employee Pension Plan. Mr. Cypen recommended the Pension Trustees take no further
steps in this matter. He indicated the Sunshine Law prohibits trustees from participating in a “confidential pre-litigation mediation.”
Mr. O’Rourke reviewed Mr. Cypen’s previous actions related to this case. Mr. Cypen did not feel his presence at the next PAC meeting is necessary. Mr. O’Rourke reported PAC Attorney
Lee Dehner will provide a recommendation to the PAC at the August meeting. The item is scheduled for Pension Trustees review on August 13, 2001. The City has responded to Police Chief
Klein’s attorney regarding this issue.
The next PAC meeting is scheduled for August 9, 2001.
ITEM #7 - Committee Members to be Heard
In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke said the remainder of required legal training related to the Pension Plan will be scheduled soon.
In response to a question, staff will report if financial disclosure forms must be submitted for the PAC if the forms previously have been submitted to a supplemental pension board.
ITEM #8 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:18 a.m.