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05/09/2002PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER May 9, 2002 Present: Whitney Gray Acting Chair/Commissioner Hoyt P. Hamilton Committee Member/Commissioner Frank Hibbard Committee Member/Commissioner John Lee Committee Member Tom Jensen Committee Member Absent: John Schmalzbauer Committee Member Also Present: Paul O’Rourke Human Resources Director Lee Dehner Pension Advisory Committee Attorney Margie Simmons Finance Director Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Acting 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 – Selection of Seventh Member Human Resources Administrator Paul O’Rourke said 7 City employees and 1 non-employee have expressed interest in serving as the seventh member of the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee). Four City employees and one non-employee were present to briefly review their background, qualifications, and reasons for wishing to serve. He said that although some time ago, former Member Fitzgerald had expressed interest in serving on the PAC again, he has recently indicated he would only serve if the PAC could not find another suitable Member. Discussion ensued regarding if the PAC should wait until a full board was present to interview the candidates. It was felt as everyone had taken valuable time from their work schedules today, the PAC should interview them today. The one absent PAC member has access to the meeting minutes and the verbatim tape in the City Clerk’s office. Interested parties interviewed were: 1) Barbara Borgan, Customer Service Representative, Marine and Aviation Department; 2) Joseph Egger, Police Officer; 3) Albert Craig, Gas Technician; 4) Vernon Packer, Building Construction Inspector; and 5) Frederick Ziegler, non-employee City resident, and CPA. Each candidate briefly reviewed their background and reasons they were interested in serving. Member Gray thanked everyone for their interest in serving. Member Hamilton moved to postpone a decision regarding selection of the seventh PAC member to the June 13, 2002, PAC meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 - Approval of Minutes of April 11, 2002 Member Hibbard moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 11, 2002, 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 Review and Action on Employee Requests for Years of Service Pension: Frank Hill, Fire Department Michael Gust, Public Works Jorge Carrasquillo, Police Member Lee moved to approve the employees’ requests for Years of Service Pension for Frank Hill, Michael Gust and Jorge Carrasquillo. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Review and Action on Requests for Survivor’s Benefits: Verdell Powell, Spouse of James Powell Mr. O’Rourke said as James Powell was separated from his spouse and passed away prior to executing a change of beneficiary, his spouse Verdell Powell is legally entitled to survivor’s benefits. Member Jensen moved to approve a request for survivor’s benefits for Verdell Powell, spouse of James Powell. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. c) Approval of New Hires as Plan Members: As of May 2, 2002, the City had 1710.15 out of 1834.7 budgeted positions. Member Lee moved to accept these employees into membership in the Pension Plan: Pension Elig. Name, Job, Class, & Dept./Div. Hire Date Date Jason Long, Filed Service Representative/Customer Service 3/25/02 3/25/02 Stephanie Sansom, Senior Accountant/Engineering 3/25/02 3/25/02 Jayshree Mistry, Utlities Chemist/Public Utilities 3/25/02 3/25/02 Matthew Roach, Public Utilties Technician I/Public Utlities 3/11/02 3/11/02 Mark Mariano, Planner/Planning & Development Services 4/15/02 4/15/02 Steven Williams, Custodial Worker/Library 4/18/02 4/08/02 Michael Lopez, Development Review Tech. I/Planning & Dev. Svcs. 4/15/02 4/15/02 ITEM #6 – Pending/ Business Carol O’Connell – Hearing on Non-job-connected Disability Request Mr. O’Rourke said Ms. O’Connell has terminal cancer and staff wants to expedite this request as soon as possible to ensure her husband receives the benefit she selected. Pension Advisory Committee Attorney Lee Dehner reviewed the applicable law and plan provisions that apply to Ms. O’Connell’s case. In response to a question, Mr. O’Rourke and Mr. Dehner said this case was expedited as quickly as possible upon receipt of medical records and the IME (Independent Medical Examination). Staff was commended for their efforts. Member Hamilton moved to approve the Non-job-connected disability request for Carol O’Connell. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #7 – Director’s Reports Mr. O’Rourke said administration is in negotiations with all City unions regarding proposed changes to the Employees’ Pension Plan. Staff proposes to bring to the PAC the non-contested items at the June 13, 2002, meeting, and the financially-driven items at the July 11, 2002, meeting. The June 13 PAC meeting may take 3 – 4 hours. Staff has requested a special Pension Trustees meeting be scheduled the week of July 15, 2002. ITEM #8 – Committee Members to be Heard In response to a question, Human Resources Analyst Deborah Ford said normally, the PAC has information regarding future disability claims a month in advance to review. This month the information was provided as usual but the hearing was scheduled for the first meeting. Mr. O’Rourke said sometimes that type of information is delayed until all the medical evidence has been acquired. In response to a question, Mr. Dehner said the Form 1 financial disclosure for PAC members must be filed before July 1, 2002. He explained that members who no longer serve on the PAC must file a different disclosure form. Staff will keep new members, current members, and departing members informed of the correct disclosures they are required to file. If the forms are not filed before the due dates, fines and other potential penalties would be incurred. Mr. Dehner said PAC members are welcome to call him at any time with questions. In response to a question, Finance Director Margie Simmons said Mr. Dehner is paid on an hourly basis. It was remarked that the City Commission has requested that over the next 6 – 12 months, staff provide their input regarding whether or not it is necessary for Mr. Dehner to attend the monthly investment meetings held at the City. The meeting adjourned at 9:59 a.m.