Retirement Division April 22, 2015 DRAFT MINUTES of Meeting Retirement Commission

MINUTES OF MEETING
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
55 ELM STREET
HARTFORD, CT 06106
9:00 a.m.

April 16, 2015

TRUSTEES PRESENT
Peter R. Blum, Chairman
Sandra Fae Brown-Brewton
Michael Carey
Charles Casella
Robert Coffey
Paul Fortier
Lisa Grasso-Egan
Steven Greatorex
Sal Luciano
Ronald McLellan
Claude Poulin

TRUSTEES ABSENT
Robert Baus
Richard Cosgrove
Laila Mandour

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Martha Carlson, Deputy Comptroller
Lee Ann Palladino, CIO, State Treasury

MUNICIPAL LIAISON
Thomas Landry

OTHERS PRESENT
Brenda Halpin, Director, Retirement Services Division
Colin Newman, Asst. Director, Retirement Services Division
Natalie Braswell, Assistant Comptroller
Michael Rose, General Counsel to the Commission
Robin Kallor, Attorney, Rose Kallor
Tynan Cooney, Court Reporter

GUESTS
Jon Lender
Michael Quintiliano
Michelle Quintiliano

CALL TO ORDER
Peter Blum, Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT -- Robinson & Cole has requested documents for the IRS that were due April 15, 2015. An extension has been requested so that the documents can be accumulated in an effort to comply with the request.

Division Director's Administrative Report

For the April retirement payroll we had 236 new retirees (216 normal, 12 disabilities, 6 voluntary pending and 2 Hybrid). We were able to finalize 6 retirement applications (4 regular and 2 disabilities) for the month.

On the ARP to Hybrid transfers we have 248 retirees, 1,487 transfers, 9 waivers and 4 prospective for a total of 1,748. The outstanding number to be audited and processed is 846.

Pending Disability Applications as of March 31, 2015

Pending Applications:    239
Applications preliminarily reviewed  (101)  
Applications waiting for documentation (138) 
Applications scheduled:    101
Total Pending:    340

FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

Number of Applications Received    21
Number of Applications on Agenda    44
Number of Applications Approved    31

The next available meeting for scheduling is June 2015.

MERS Survey Results to Date - 78.45% completed

1,222   have not responded
4,458   responded, not working
4   employed in the private sector
153   employed in a participating municipality
89   employed by a non-participating municipality
70   returned by post Office
5996   total

I have provided a copy of the legislation that is currently active for your review.

NEW MATTERS

1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 2015 MINUTES Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the March 2015 Minutes. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

2. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S PER DIEM EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem expenses and reimbursements. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION MANAGEMENT TRUSTEES PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Management Trustee's Per Diem and travel expenses. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

4. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION UNION TRUSTEES PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee's Per Diem and travel expenses. All voted in favor. Mr. Poulin abstained

Unanimous Decision

5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF STATE EMPLOYEESS RETIREMENT TRUSTEE CHARLES CASELLA'S PARKING EXPENSES Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Trustee parking expenses. All voted in favor. Mr. Casella abstained

Unanimous Decision

6. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION COUNSEL ROSE KALLOR BILLING FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2015 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Counsel Rose Kallor billing for the month of February 2015. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

7. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2015 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service retirements for the month of March 2015. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

8. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES SYSTEM DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2015 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability retirements for the month of March 2015. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

9. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES SYSTEM VOLUNTARY PENDING RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2015 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending retirements for the month of March 2015. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

10. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETROACTIVE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2015 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Retroactive retirements for the month of March 2015. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

11. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Municipal Retirement System retirements. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

12. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD FROM ITS MEETINGS OF MARCH 6, 2015 AND MARCH 20, 2015 Mr. Luciano moved to approve the recommendations from the Medical Examining Board seconded by Mr. Greatorex. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

13. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE REPORT ON THE BIENNIAL VALUATION OF THE CONNECTICUT POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN SURVIVORS' BENEFIT FUND AS OF JUNE 30, 2014 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Report on the Biennial Valuation of the Connecticut Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund as of June 30, 2014. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

TABLED ITEMS

I. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION COUNSEL ROSE KALLOR BILLING FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2015 AND SUMMARY OF JANUARY 2015 ACTIVITY - this matter was addressed as agenda item #6.

II. DISCUSSION FROM THE LEGAL AND PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEE CONCERNING THE ARP PLAN MODIFICATION - A report was not provided because the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee was not held in the month of April 2015 due to no notice. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex that this matter be tabled to the May 2015 meeting. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to amend the agenda to allow Mr. Quintiliano to address the Retirement Commission related to his request for a declaratory ruling. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 10:30 Ms. Brown-Brewton moved, seconded by Mr. Casella to go into Executive Session. Attorney Kallor, Attorney Rose, Ms. Halpin, Ms. Braswell and Mr. Newman were asked to stay. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

DECISION AND DECLARATORY RULING IN THE MATTER OF MICHAEL QUINTILIANO - Attorney Rose will advise.

Ms. Brown-Brewton moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to come out of Executive Session. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to table this matter to the May 21, 2015 meeting so that Mr. Quintiliano can provide new documents to support his claim and Mr. Quintiliano agrees to waive the timeliness of his request for Declaratory Ruling due to his request to present additional documentation. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

REQUEST FOR REVIEW AND RECONSIDERATION FROM EDWARD DOBBINS - Attorney Rose will advise.

At 11:03 p.m. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to come out of Executive Session. All voted in favor.

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to place Mr. Dobbin's case on the agenda for the May 21, 2015 meeting. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

ADJOURNMENT

At 11:05 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to adjourn. All voted in favor.

_________________________ _______________________
Brenda K. Halpin, Director Peter R. Blum, Chair
Retirement Services Division  

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