Loading...
04/15/2025 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 e Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 15, 2025 1 :30 PM Special Meeting 777 Maple Street, Clearwater, FL 33755 Pension Advisory Committee Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 Roll Call Present 6 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair David Sowers, Committee Member Ryan Cotton, Committee Member Juliet Marvenko, Committee Member Chris Smaha, and Committee Member Corey Lenczden Also Present— David Margolis — City Attorney, Tiffany Makras - Human Resources Director, and Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk 1. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve minutes of January 9, 2025 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in written summation. Member Sowers moved to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2025 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Recommend approval of the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed. Pension Name Job Classification Department Eligibility Date Tyler McKenna Utilities Mechanic Public Utilities 12/30/2024 Petra Lara Staff Assistant I General Services 01/11/2025 Jay Albis Police Officer Police Department 01/13/2025 Joe Bay Budget Analyst II Finance Department 01/13/2025 Aly'ssa Brown Police Officer Police Department 01/13/2025 Daniel Copeland Police Officer Police Department 01/13/2025 Carlos Estrella Police Officer Police Department 01/13/2025 Benjamin Floyd Solid Waste Equipment Oper Solid Waste & Recycling 01/13/2025 Michael Gainer Wastewater Treatment Plant OperA Public Utilities 01/13/2025 Edward Graham Police Cadet Police Department 01/13/2025 Daniel Hurd Police Officer Police Department 01/13/2025 Daniel Irwin Police Officer Police Department 01/13/2025 Kelsy Johnson Recreation Specialist Parks & Recreation 01/13/2025 Amanda Levicki Police Service Tech Police Department 01/13/2025 Megan McLaughlin Executive Assistant City Council 01/13/2025 Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 Matthew Mulligan Police Cadet Police Department 01/13/2025 Justin Paulson Police Cadet Police Department 01/13/2025 Marissa Polencheck Police Cadet Police Department 01/13/2025 Patricio Tovar Public Utilities Assistant Manager Public Utilities 01/13/2025 Tommy Wright Fleet Mechanic General Services 01/13/2025 Daniel Zagone Police Cadet Police Department 01/13/2025 Devonte Hinton Water Distribution Operator Trainee Public Utilities 01/27/2025 Sheldon Kautz Wastewater Treatment Plant Oper C Public Utilities 01/27/2025 Marcus Mayfield Solid Waste Worker I Solid Waste & Recycling 01/27/2025 Ruben Rivera-Garcia Solid Waste Worker I Solid Waste & Recycling 01/27/2025 Aaron Shaw Gas Technician I Gas Department 01/27/2025 Jared Staudinger Water Distribution Operator Trainee Public Utilities 01/27/2025 Sarah Straker Recreation Specialist Parks & Recreation 01/27/2025 Daniel Terrell Solid Waste Worker I Solid Waste & Recycling 01/27/2025 Garret Chrissley Human Resources Analyst I Human Resources 02/10/2025 Dylan Dasopatis Solid Waste Equipment Operator Solid Waste & Recycling E02/10/2025 Welton Thomas Solid Waste Service Supervisor II Solid Waste & Recycling 0/2025Brian Ulbricht CRA Specialist Community 0/2025 Redevelopment Agency Member Sowers moved to recommend approval of the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.2 Recommend approval of the following request of employees David Melton, Public Works Department and Kyle Vaughan, Public Works Department to vest their pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. David Melton, Stormwater/Heavy Equipment Operator, Public Works Department, was employed by the City on March 6, 2008, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. Mr. Melton terminated from City employment on December 22, 2024. Kyle Vaughan, Engineering Specialist II, Public Works Department, was employed by the City on September 3, 2011, and his pension service credit is effective on January 16, 2012. Mr. Vaughan terminated from City employment on January 17, 2025. The Employees' Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an employee of the City of Clearwater or change status from full-time to part-time after completing five or more years (non-hazardous duty) and ten or more years (hazardous duty) of creditable service (pension participation), such employee shall acquire a vested interest in the retirement benefits. Vested pension payments commence on the first of the month following the month in which the employee normally would have been eligible for retirement. Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (1/1/13), a Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five (55) years and completed twenty (20) years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age sixty-five (65) years and completed ten (5) years of credited service; or the date on which a member has completed thirty (30) years of service regardless of age. For non-hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date of this restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty (60) years and completed twenty-five (25) years of credited service; or the date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years and completed ten (5) years of credited service. Mr. Melton will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in February of 2028. Mr. Vaughan will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in January of 2041. Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which the participant has completed twenty (20) years of credited service regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty-five (55) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service. Member Teixeira moved to recommend approval of the following request of employees David Melton, Public Works Department and Kyle Vaughan, Public Works Department to vest their pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of Perry Conzen, General Services Department, Nilda Espinosa, Planning & Development Department, Robert Orner, General Services Department, Maria Pita, Police Department, and Christian Zarra, Police Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan. Perry Conzen, Fleet Division Manager, General Services Department, was employed by the City on January 12, 2004, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective April 1, 2025. Based on an average salary of approximately $97,060.42 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Conzen's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $44,639.28 annually. Nilda Espinosa, Code Inspector I, Planning & Development Department, was employed by the City on May 8, 2000, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be effective February 1, 2025. Based on an average salary of approximately $55,602.10 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Espinosa's selection of the 10 Year Certain and Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 approximately $34,734.36 annually. Robert Orner, Fleet Mechanic Supervisor, General Services Department, was employed by the City on September 24, 2012, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective May 1, 2025. Based on an average salary of approximately $63,846.74 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Omer's selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $17,997.48 annually. Maria Pita, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on October 25, 2010, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be effective February 1, 2025. Based on an average salary of approximately $92,885.74 over the past five years, the formula for computing early retirement pensions and Ms. Pita's selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $28,579.92 annually. Christian Zarra, Police Sergeant, Police Department, was employed by the City on July 21, 1997, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2025. Based on an average salary of approximately $147,006.17 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Zarra's selection of the Joint and Survivor Annuity with the 30% partial lump sum, this pension benefit will be approximately $78,380.52 annually. Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (1/1/13), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five (55) years and completed twenty (20) years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age sixty-five (65) years and completed five (5) years of credited service; or the date on which a member has completed thirty (30) years of service regardless of age. For non-hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date of this restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty (60) years and completed twenty-five (25) years of credited service; or the date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years and completed five (5) years of credited service. Mr. Conzen, Ms. Espinosa, and Mr. Omer have met the non-hazardous duty criteria. Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which the participant has completed twenty (20) years of credited service regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty-five (55) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service. Ms. Pita and Mr. Zarra have met the hazardous duty criteria. Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 Member Sowers moved to recommend approval of the following request of Perry Conzen, General Services Department, Nilda Espinosa, Planning and Development Department, Robert Orner, General Services Department, Maria Pita, Police Department, and Christian Zarra, Police Department for a regular pension as provided in Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.4 Informal hearing for Andrew Anderson request for job-connected disability pension The City Attorney reviewed Andrew Anderson's application for a job-connected disability and hearing requirements as detailed by code. He said the applicant is claiming cardiac and psychiatric disability. The applicant was hired as a Clearwater Police Officer in May 2011. The applicant underwent a LifeScan wellness evaluation in September 2023 and was eventually diagnosed with Supra Ventricular Tachycardia. He said Mr. Anderson had been in various states of FMLA and leave from the City and subsequently separated from City employment. Mr. Anderson was seen and evaluated by the Independent Medical Examiner(IME) for both cardiac and psychiatric diagnoses. Member Teixeira moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the application, personnel file interrogatories, medical records, and the Independent Medical Examiner. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Attorney Tanya Oliver, representing Andrew Anderson, said Mr. Anderson was treated under Worker's Compensation for the abnormal heart rhythm. There is no known cause of the arrythmia. The pre-employment physical showed no evidence of heart disease. It was said that the committee is comfortable granting the job-connected disability based on the cardiac portion of the application while recognizing the psychological component as well. Member Teixeira moved that Andrew Anderson met the requirements for a job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of an injury suffered or an illness contracted in the line of duty, such disability is likely to be continuous and permanent from a cause other than those listed as general disability exclusions, and he is unable, by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, to render useful and efficient service as a police officer or firefighter. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 4.5 Informal hearing for Chad Reed request for job-connected disability pension The City Attorney reviewed Chad Reed's application for a job-connect disability and hearing requirements as detailed by code. He said the applicant is claiming cardiac disability. The applicant was hired as a Clearwater Police Officer in September 1999 and submitted a disability application in July 2024 after being diagnosed with Supra Ventricular Tachycardia, and he retired in September 2024. Member Sowers moved to accept into evidence the entire file, inclusive of the application, personnel file interrogatories, medical records, and the Independent Medical Examiner. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Mr. Reed said he was hired in September 1999 with a clean pre-employment physical screening. In May 2022 he started experiencing heart palpitations, sweating, heart racing and high blood pressure while on duty and was admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed with Supra Ventricular Tachycardia. Similar episodes sent him back to the hospital in September 2023 and March 2024. He said his symptoms are a liability in this occupation and was placed on FMLA. He said he experiences daily symptoms, and it affects his personal and professional life. In response to questions, Mr. Reed said there was one medication he refused to take under the advisement of two other cardiologists. He said he is willing to undergo a cardiac ablation procedure and has been scheduled and cancelled twice by the Worker's Compensation doctor. He said some documentation was not provided in the disability notebook because there is still an open Worker's Compensation case. Member Lenczden moved that Chad Reed met the requirements for a job-related disability pension as he was disabled by reason of an injury suffered or an illness contracted in the line of duty, such disability is likely to be continuous and permanent from a cause other than those listed as general disability exclusions, and he is unable, by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, to render useful and efficient service as a police officer or firefighter. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Old Business Items: None. 6. Director's Report: None. 7. Board Members to be Heard: None. Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 15, 2025 8. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 2:21 p.m. Attest: City of Clearwater Page 1 Chair, Pension Advisory Committee