Personnel & Pension Board

Personnel & Pension Board Minutes October 16, 2012 Regular Meeting Room 108,1st floor, 6:00 pm, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut, 06360 I. Roll Call Meeting called to order by Paul Schroder at 6:00 pm A. Members Present 1. Paul Schroder (voting member) 2. Sarah Kannas (voting member) 3. Scott Suplita (voting member) 4. Peter Barber (voting member-joined at 6:24 pm) 5. John John (voting member) B. Members Absent 1. James Tetreault (alternate) C. Others Present 1. Brigid Marks, Human Resources Director, City of Norwich 2. Patricia Osten, P&P Board Secretary 3. Brian Curtin, Treasurer, City of Norwich 4. Susan Goldman, city employee 5. Wayne Meyers, Representative, Council 4 AFSCME 6. Suzanne MacDowell, NPU employee 7. Thomas Blake, retiree applicant 8. Retirees for the pension payment discussion II. Minutes A. Minutes of the 9/18/2012 Combined Regular/Investment Personnel & Pension Board Meeting. Motion to accept the minutes made by Scott Suplita; seconded by John John, all in favor. III. Old Business A. Possible discussion with pensioners regarding the processing of pension payments in- house. Approximately 20 retirees attended the informational discussion on the processing of pension payments in-house. Retirees asked questions regarding how this was decided upon, where to get a direct deposit form, how their taxes would be affected, what would happen if the 15th fell on a weekend, etc. Upon completion of the discussion, the retirees left the meeting. B. Request from Thomas Trasko to discuss the denial of a refund for his purchased military time. Tabled from the 8/28/2012 Special meeting. Motion made by Peter Barber to table this until Thomas Trasko is present, seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor. C. IME report regarding Thomas Blake's disability retirement. Motion made by Paul Schroder to go into executive session to review Thomas Blake's information, seconded by Sarah Kannas, all in favor. At this time Thomas Blake, Susan Goldman, Wayne Meyers, Suzanne MacDowell and Brian Curtin left the room and the Board entered into executive session. Upon completion of the discussion, Paul Schroder made a motion to return to the regular agenda, seconded by John John, all in favor. Motion made by John John to deny Thomas Blake's service connected disability pension, seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor. Thomas Blake left the meeting at this time. Personnel & Pension Board Minutes October 16,2012 Regular Meeting Room 108,1st floor, 6:00 pm, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut, 06360 IV. New Business A. Letter from Susan Goldman regarding the purchase of prior service. Wayne Meyers spoke regarding the agreement, especially regarding items 2. D. and 2. F., he requested the Board look at the agreement and allow Ms. Goldman the opportunity to purchase at least the three years mentioned in item 2. F., if not the whole 9.58 years mentioned in item 2. D. Brigid Marks mentioned this is an agreement between the City and the Union. She does not believe the P&P Board has the authority to overrule an agreement between the City and the Union. Paul Schroder indicated he did not believe they would be overruling the agreement but they were looking at the denial of 2008. Sarah Kannas asked Sue Goldman if any circumstances changed from 2008 that would leave her to believe this decision would be reversed. Sue Goldman indicated she did not agree with the earlier decision. Wayne Meyers indicated he felt this was the first course of action to pursue. Paul indicated some agreements leave the purchase of prior service up to the Pension Board, this agreement does not. Motion made by Sarah Kannas to deny Ms. Goldman's request to purchase prior service and the vote back on 8/19/2008 stands unless there is additional evidence to warrant further discussion. Seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor. B. Letter from Suzanne MacDowell regarding the purchase of probationary time. Motion made by Paul Schroder to allow Suzanne MacDowell to purchase her probationary time due to lack of documentation. Suzanne to notify Pat Osten within 30 days of her intent to purchase and allow the same time period of 52 weeks or 104 weeks with which to purchase this time, by approving this request the Board is in no way setting precedence for future requests and each such request will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Seconded by Sarah Kannas, all in favor. Suzanne MacDowell left at this time. C. Letter from Carl Bourne regarding the purchase of probationary time. Tabled to 11/20/2012, to notifyCarl Bournethe Boardwouldlike him present for the request. D. Letter from Steven Schmidt regarding the purchase of probationary time. Tabled to 11/20/2012, to notify Steven Schmidt the Board would like him present for the request. E. Notification of death(s): Acknowledgement of notifications made by Peter Barber, seconded by John John, all in favor. i. Geneva R Toscano (DOD 9/17/2012), who retired from NPU on 3/3/1990, no survivorship benefit due. ii. Gloria Barber (DOD 9/20/2012), who retired from the Housing Department on 1/22/1993, no survivorship benefit due. iii. John Maynard (DOD 9/20/2012), who retired from the BOE on 10/30/1999, no survivorship benefit due. F. Application^) for retirement: Motion made by Peter Barber to approve the retirement, seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor. i. Frank Feraco, Jr., Senior Maintenance Mechanic at NPU, for a normal retirement eff. 12/3/2012. G. Pension calculation(s): Motion made by Peter Barber to approve the calculations, seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor. i. Duane Donovan, who retired 9/29/2012, his pension is calculated for an annual amount of $59>7i9-8o. His application for a normal retirement was approved at the 9/18/2012 meeting. Personnel & Pension Board Minutes October 16,2012 Regular Meeting Room 108,1st floor, 6:00 pm, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut, 06360 ii. Rachel Laprade, who retired 9/29/2012, her pension is calculated for an annual amount of $14,367.79. Her application for a normal retirement was approved at the 8/28/2012 meeting, iii. Henry Podraza, who retired 9/29/2012, his pension is calculated for an annual amount of $48,497.81. His application for a normal retirement was approved at the 9/18/2012 meeting. H. Council resolution appointing John A. John to the P&P Board as a regular member for a term to expire on 3/1/2013. Motion to welcome John John to the board as a voting member made by Peter Barber, seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor I. Request from Chief Scandariato, Fire Chief, to extend the eligibility list for the position of Battalion Chief for 1 year. The current list expires on 11/15/2012. Motion to extend the list for one year made by Scott Suplita, seconded by Paul Schroder, all in favor. J. New employee(s): Motion to acknowledge the new employees made by John John, seconded by Scott Suplita, all in favor. DATE OF NAME POSITION HIRE CITY/STATE Matthew Goddu Police Officer 10/3/2012 Waterford, CT Revenue Beth Smith Collection Clerk 10/15/2012 Norwich, CT Matthew Seidel Police Officer 10/15/2012 Groton, CT Zachary Widener Laborer 10/15/2012 Norwich, CT Recreation Sean Flaherty Facilities Maint I 10/15/2012 Norwich, CT Employee(s) to be iadmitted into the Ciity of Norwich '. Employees' Retiren Motion made to accept the new employees into the fund, by Paul Schroder, amended by Sarah Kannas to include interest on the buybacks for Roderico Roldan and Karin Urgitis, seconded by John John, all in favor. EVAL./ REQUEST ACAD PROB FORM DATE OF GRAD PERIOD UP RECEIVED NAME POSITION HIRE DATE ON: ON: Edward NowakowsM Custodian-BOE 11/21/2011 N/A 9/6/2012 9/19/2012 Computer Tech- Roderico Roldan BOE 12/1/2008 N/A 1/1/2009 10/5/2012 Computer Karin Urgitis Trainer-BOE 1/12/2009 N/A N/A 10/5/2012 Technology Matthew Martin Support - BOE 7/30/2012 N/A N/A 10/11/2012 Para educator - Sandra Baldyga BOE 3/16/2012 N/A 10/5/2012 10/15/2012 Para educator - Delisia Dollinger BOE 3/19/2012 N/A 10/9/2012 10/15/2012 Personnel & Pension Board Minutes October 16, 2012 Regular Meeting Room 108,1st floor, 6:00 pm, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut, 06360 L. Added under suspension of the rules: Motion made by Paul Schroder to add the following to the agenda, seconded by John John, all in favor: Notification of article in the New London Day regarding bringing pension payments in house and having pension payments go via direct deposit. Paul mentioned he thought the article was premature and the information should not have been released until the Board had time to hear from the retirees and was able to notify Wilmington Trust. The Board requested Brigid mention this to the City Manager, Mr. Alan Bergren. V. Correspondence A. None. VI. Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Sarah Kannas; seconded by John John, all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:44 pm Patricia Osten, Secretary