Contributory Retirement Board

The Beverly Retirement Board held a teleconference meeting on goggle meets on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 6 p.m. Board members present were Richard Pierce, Carol Augulewicz, Kevin Smith, Bryant Ayles and Chuck Kostro. Kevin Smith asked if the board needs to roll call vote. Chuck Kostro stated that he did not read in PERAC's directive that it was need and the administrator agreed. Chuck stated that the Essex Board will be doing roll call. All Board members and the administrator are participating remotely, The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. OPEB Update: Bryant Ayles has not joined the meeting yet so we will circle back when he arrives. A motion was made by Chuck Kostro and seconded by Kevin Smith to accept the minutes for the February 20, 2020 meeting as read. Vote 4 to 0 in favor. Bryant Ayles joins the meeting at 6:06 p.m. The Chairman informed Bryant that the Board had approved the minutes of the February 20, 2020 meeting and asked for a OPEB Update, Bryant Alyes stated that there was no activity since the last report. A motion was made by Bryant Ayles and seconded by Kevin Smith to approve the superannuation retirement of John Morris – Fire Dept. – Mechanic – 32 years – Option C – April 11, 2020. Vote 5 to 0 in favor. A motion was made by Chuck Kostro and seconded by Carol Augulewicz to refund the accumulated deductions to Pennie Fraczek – Paraprofessional – 14 years 2 mos. Creditable service. Chuck Kostro asked the administrator if she knew she was eligible for a pension and the administrator stated yes that it had something to do with the offset with Social Security, Vote 5 to 0 in favor. A motionn was made to transfer the accounts of: Joann Dunjaski – Paraprofessional -18 yrs. 1 mo. Creditable service to Gloucester Retirement Bd., Robert Dever – Engineering – 7 yrs. 6 mos. Creditable service to Marblehead Retirement Bd., Robert Tamillo – Fire Dept. transferred in 2/2019 owed retro pay transferred to Lynn Retirement Bd. Vote 5 to 0 in favor. On a motion made by Bryant Ayles and seconded by Chuck Kostro to approve the financial information consisting of January 2020 bank statements, cash reconciliation, trial balance, cash receipts, cash disbursements and adjusting journal entries. Vote 5 to 0 in favor. There was no wire transfer needed this month. A motion was made by Kevin Smith and seconded by Bryant Ayles to approve the monthly warrants of $1,365,331.65. Vote 5 to 0 in favor. Under old business the Chairman Pierce informed the Board members the social media language had been adopted at February's meeting. Also that the COLA Base Increase letter has been submitted to the Council and he is awaiting the date that it will be sent to the Finance Committee. Under new business is the disability procedure the administrator just wanted the Board members to know that she follows the CMR 860 procedures as per PERAC's directive. The David Smorczeski was completely submitted by his lawyer and she assumed that there was five years of medical information, 542 PAGE TWO March 26, 2020 Chuck Kostro refreshed the Board members memory that his recommendation was to have the Board's council to review the accidental disability's and hold evidentiary hearing as needed. Chuck understands that there is a cost to doing this and it provides that the accidental disability process is vetted fully, Chairman Pierce is agreeable to the idea but is curious about the cost of having all accidental disabilities reviewed by Michale Sacco, Chuck states that each disability application is difference so the cost can range from $1,500 - $3,000 but that is his rough guess. Carol Augulewicz asked the administrator how many disabilities does the Board receive. The administrator states for the 2019 to present around 6, In a given year we have no more than 5. Carol Augulewicz agrees with reviewing them and forwarding the disabilities it feels Council should review which is giving the Board a voice in the process. Chairman Peirce asked Chuck Kostro if the Essex Board holds an evidentiary hearing for all their disabilities. Chuck Kostro stated yes they do. Kevin Smith agrees that we should have a procedure in place. Bryant Ayles asked if we should drafted some language for reviewing and deciding to either send the disability straight to to a medical panel or have Council reiview prior to sending it to a medical panel. A motion was made by Chuck Kostro and seconded by Bryant Ayles to have the administrator draft language for the Board to approve at its next meeting. Vote 5 to 0 in favor. The Board Members discussed PERAC #13/2020 Updated Forms on the PERAC Website, PERAC #14/2020 Required Minimum Distribution: Still Age 70 ½ For This Year's Notification, PERAC #15/2020 Coronavirus: Contingency Planning, Mass. Retirees – Insurance premiums and part-time work, PERAC #17 Revised #15 memo Mass. Retirees – 1sr Anniversary of our Friday video messages, Mass. Retirees – Loosening limits on part-time work, Mass. Retirees - Keeping our members safe, Revised Annual Statement pages. (Upon closing year-end Nov. & Dec. '19 accounting got deleted which I didn't discover until doing January's accounting. Restoring those months change our year-end figures. Tyler doesn't know what happened), PERAC Letter Ryan Mitchell Chairman Pierce stated that he didn't understand why PERAC sent this letter. The administrator informed the Board that he had forwarded the letter to Michael Sacco and he stated he doesn't know why PERAC sends them but the Board does not have to and cannot do anything at this time as this was only an arrest and Mr. Mitchell has not been convicted of a crime. Michael informs the administrator that once the Board has discussed it either his office or the administrator can write a letter to PERAC informing them that they took the letter under advisement and will follow the case and if any action is needed they will take it at that time. Chuck Kostro stated that he agrees and they get these and Michael has given them the same information. Carol Augulewicz asked if this was a new procedure that PERAC has implemented and Chuck Kostro stated no, PERAC #16 – Coronavirus Update and Michael Sacco email COVID-19. The next Board Meeting will be held on April 30, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. As there is no further business to come before the Beverly Retirement Board the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. on a motion made by Smith and seconded by Chuck Kostro. Vote 5 to 0 in favor. 543 PAGE THREE March 26, 2020 Respectfully submitted, Barbara Wells, Administrator _______________________________ ________________________________ Carol Augulewicz, Ex Officio Bryant Ayles, Appointed Member ________________________________ ________________________________ Richard Pierce, Elected Member – Chairman Charles E. Kostro, Fifth Member ________________________________ Kevin Smith, Elected Member 544