Personnel & Pension Board

Personnel & Pension Board Minutes Page 1 of 5 February 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Room 213, 2nd floor, 5:00 PM, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut 06360 I. Roll Call Meeting called to order by Paul Schroder at 5:03pm A. Members Present 1. Paul Schroder, Chair (voting member) 2. Rich Morelli (voting member) 3. Mike Dziavit (voting member) 4. Chris Golas (voting member) 5. Bob Pounch (voting member) B. Members Absent 1. Gary Gross (alternate) 2. Francis Gavigan (alternate) C. Others Present 1. Brigid Marks, Director of Human Resources 2. Evelyn Lopez, Retirement Plan Administrator 3. Marc Shegoski, UBS (via phone) 4. David Sears, UBS II. Minutes A. Minutes of January 17, 2023 Personnel & Pension Board Meeting. Motion to accept January 17, 2023 minutes made by Rich Morelli, seconded by Bob Pounch, all in favor. III. Old Business A. Review draft update of the Fire Pension Plan Summary Book Tabled from the January 17, 2023 meeting. Brigid Marks informed board members that the Fire Pension Plan Summary Book is still under Review by the Fire Department. IV. New Business A. UBS Investment Review Marc Shegoski and David Sears from UBS Financial Services, Inc. provided a brief overview of the current stock market. Both Marc and David talked about the performance, interest rates, inflation and struggles with the current stock market. The portfolio was reviewed David Sears. The pension fund asset allocation as of February 15, 2023 was 65.33% equity, 30.17% fixed income and 4.5% real estate. The OPEB fund asset allocation as of February 15, 2023 was 69.07% equity and 30.93% fixed income. UBS recommended the following: 1. To invest $ 4.749 million from the POB proceeds. Motion to approve UBS recommendation to invest $4.749 million was made by Chris Golas, seconded by Bob Pounch, all in favor. B. DRO Fees Brigid Marks asked the board members to consider amending the current DRO fee schedule by replacing the set fees with language to make the alternate payee responsible for all fees incurred. The new language would ensure the City will not be responsible for any costs over and above the fees listed on a set fee schedule. Paul Schroder and board members discussed the proposal. Motion made by Mike Dziavit to replace the DRO current fee schedule with the following language: The alternate payee will be responsible for all fees associated with processing a DRO including a minimum down payment of $300.00 to begin the process, seconded by Chris Golas, all in favor Personnel & Pension Board Minutes Page 2 of 5 February 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Room 213, 2nd floor, 5:00 PM, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut 06360 C. Application for retirement: 1. Betsy M. Barrett, City Clerk, for a normal retirement effective July 19, 2023. 2. Valerie L. Cox, Executive Secretary, for a normal retirement effective February 28, 2023. 3. Gregory J. Despathy, Battalion Chief, for a normal retirement effective January 29, 2023. 4. Derek Ouillette, Fire Fighter, for a normal retirement effective March 19, 2023. Motion to approve retirement applications made by Mike Dziavit, seconded by Rich Morelli, all in favor. D. Pension Calculations: 1. Leon Barnowski, LAN Supervisor, retired December 29, 2022. His annual pension calculation is $49,765.15. His application was approved at the September 20, 2022 meeting. 2. Gregory J. Despathy, Battalion Chief, retired January 29, 2023. His annual pension calculation is $ 94,634.75. His application is on the agenda at this meeting. 3. Carol Erickson, School Nurse, retired December 28, 2022. Her annual pension calculation is $ 39,730.04. Her application was approved at the November 15, 2022 meeting. 4. Angela Fonner, Paraeducator, retired December 28, 2022. Her annual pension calculation is $ 9,549.89. Her application was approved at the January 17, 2023 meeting. 5. Ernest Gladue Jr. Light Equipment Operator, retired January 7, 2023. His annual pension calculation is $ 30,667.57. His application was approved at the January 17, 2023 meeting. 6. Tracy Hardy, Sewage Treatment Coll. Operator IV, retired December 31, 2022. His annual pension calculation is $ 50,056.61. His application was approved at the October 18, 2022 meeting. 7. Kevin Maerkel, Utility Collector Installer, retired December 31, 2022. His annual pension calculation is $ 70,200.89. His application was approved at the November 15, 2022 meeting. 8. Monir Tewfik, Laboratory Director, retired December 31, 2022. His annual pension calculation is $ 108,546.62. His application was approved at the November 15, 2022 meeting. 9. Robert Thibeault, Business Intelligence, retired December 31, 2022. His annual pension calculation is $ 72,850.14. His application was approved at the October 18, 2022 meeting. 10. Christopher Wojtcuk, Senior Water Distribution System Operator, retired December 31, 2022. His annual pension calculation is $ 57,359.52. His application was approved at the September 20, 2022 meeting. 11. Lisa French, Paraeducator, retired December 28, 2022. Her annual pension calculation is $ 17,020.78. Her application was approved at the November 15, 2022 meeting. 12. Arthur Moran, Maintenance Mechanic, retired December 31, 2022. His annual pension calculation $54,193.92. His application was approved at the November 15, 2022 meeting. Motion to approve the pension calculations made by Bob Pounch, seconded by Bob Pounch, all in favor. E. Applications for refund/rollover of pension contributions: 1. Taramarie Cardelle, Accounting Clerk, who terminated effective September 23, 2022. Refund of $ 4,717.99 including interest. Personnel & Pension Board Minutes Page 3 of 5 February 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Room 213, 2nd floor, 5:00 PM, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut 06360 2. Jennifer Ceccarelli, School Nurse, who terminated effective October 20, 2020. Refund of $ 23,001.78 including interest. 3. Kristen Ejchorszt, Board Cert. Behavior Analyst, who terminated effective December 23, 2022. Refund of $ 5,989.12 including interest. 4. Lisa Gauthier, Paraeducator, who terminated effective October 7, 2022. Refund of $ 21,416.23 including interest. 5. Kerlande Juste, Paraeducator, who terminated effective October 14, 2022. Refund of $ 3,941.71 including interest. 6. Abigail Leach, Police Records Computer Operator, who terminated effective November 28, 2022. Refund of $ 2,889.18 including interest. 7. Shawn Poirier, Food Service, who terminated effective August 18, 2022. Refund of $ 3,257.72 including interest. 8. Damaris Rivas, Paraeducator, who terminated effective December 22, 2022. Refund of $ 23,783.25 including interest. 9. John Sabrowski, Assistant Director Facilities – BOE, who terminated effective October 14, 2022. Refund of $ 1,043.01 including interest. 10. Mark Waters, Director of Training & Safety, who terminated effective November 15, 2022. Refund of $ 4,458.14 including interest. Motion to approve the refund/rollover applications made by Mike Dziavit, seconded by Rich Morelli, all in favor. F. Notifications of Death: 1. Konstant W. Morell, Corporation Counsel, DOD January 31, 2023, who retired on December 5, 2001. No further benefit due. Motion to acknowledge notification of death made by Bob Pounch, seconded by Rich Morelli, all in favor. G. Eligibility List Extensions: 1. Request from Chief Montoya, Fire Chief, to extend the Firefighter eligibility list for six (6) months. The list expires April 25, 2023. Motion to extend the Firefighter eligibility list for six (6) months was made by Chris Golas, seconded by Bob Pounch, all in favor. 2. Request from Joshua Pothier, Comptroller, to extend the Revenue Collection Clerk- Bilingual eligibility list for one (1) year. The list expires March 9, 2023. Motion to extend the Revenue Collection Clerk-Bilingual eligibility list for six (6) month was made by Chris Golas, seconded by Mike Dziavit, all in favor. H. Employees to be admitted into the City of Norwich Employees’ Retirement Fund: Motion to admit the following employees into the City of Norwich Employees made by Rich Morelli, seconded Mike Dziavit, all in favor. NAME POSITION DATE OF ACADAMY LAST DAY ON REQUEST/EVAL HIRE GRADUATIO PROBATION RECEIVED N DATE Christopher Burger Bldg. Code Comp. 07/25/2022 N/A 01/25/2023 01/25/2023 Tech I Kelly Carvalho Board Cert. Behavior 01/09/2023 N/A N/A 02/08/2023 Analyst Shayna Gilman Customer Account Rep 08/15/2022 N/A 02/15/2023 02/15/2023 Personnel & Pension Board Minutes Page 4 of 5 February 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Room 213, 2nd floor, 5:00 PM, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut 06360 James Harriott Blight Control/House 07/18/2022 N/A 01/28/2023 01/25/2023 Code Enf. Officer Alisa Morrison Associate Utility 07/25/2022 N/A 01/25/2023 01/25/2023 Engineer Hannah Ornburn Drug Free 07/18/2022 N/A 01/18/2023 01/18/2023 Communities Coordinator Mark Tebbets Bldg. Code Comp. 07/25/2022 N/A 01/25/2023 01/25/2023 Tech I Virginia York SLP Assistant 12/14/2022 N/A N/A 02/10/2023 Robin Young Nurse 08/26/2022 N/A 12/05/2022 02/10/2023 I.New Employees: Motion to acknowledge the new employees made by Mike Dziavit, seconded by Bob Pounch, all in favor. Name Position Date of City/State Hire Kelly Carvalho Board Cert. Behavior Analyst 01/09/2023 Eastford, CT Brett Egan Utility Construction Pipefitter Apprentice 02/13/2023 Gales Ferry, CT Mario Gagliardi Information Technology Tech User Support 01/23/2023 Canterbury, CT Cameron Milton Firefighter 02/07/2023 Norwich, CT Thomas Palmer Laborer 01/23/2023 Lisbon, CT Jeffrey Paquet Apprentice Water Plant Treatment Operator 02/06/2023 Colchester, CT Virginia York SLP Assistant 12/14/2022 Gales Ferry, CT Sarah Warzecha Y&FS Program Coordinator 01/23/2023 Norwich, CT Paul Schroder made a motion to add an item to the agenda under suspension of rules. A to section IV Correspondence, seconded by Mike Dziavit, all in favor. IV. Correspondence A. Letter from Scott Harrington Paul Schroder read Mr. Harrington’s letter to P&P Board members. Mr. Harrington states he has “written to the City Council and Attorney General William Tong with no response. I now write to you to see if anyone has the willingness to revoke John Bilda’s pension” due to his conviction of “stealing rate payer’s money”. The letter also states the “Attorney General shall apply to a supervisor court judge for the revocation of a state or municipal pension”. The Board discussed the contents of the letter. Motion made by Paul Schroder, seconded by Mike Dziavit, all in favor to respond in writing to Mr. Harrington advising him that the Attorney General, not the P&P Board, must apply to a superior court judge to get a pension revoked. V. Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Bob Pounch, seconded by Mike Dziavit, all in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 5:37pm. Respectfully submitted, Personnel & Pension Board Minutes Page 5 of 5 February 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Room 213, 2nd floor, 5:00 PM, City Hall Building Norwich, Connecticut 06360 _______________________ Evelyn Lopez, Secretary