 |
|
|
August 21, 2014
TRUSTEES PRESENT
Peter R. Blum
Robert Baus
Sandra Fae Brown-Brewton
Michael Carey
Charles Casella
Robert Coffey
Richard Cosgrove
Paul Fortier
Stephen Greatorex
Sal Luciano
Laila Mandour
Claude Poulin
Linda Yelmini
TRUSTEES ABSENT
Ronald McLellan
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Kevin Lembo, Comptroller
Lee Ann Palladino, CIO, State Treasury
MUNICIPAL LIAISON
Thomas Landry
OTHERS PRESENT
Brenda Halpin, Director, Retirement Services Division
Colin Newman, Assistant Director, Retirement Services Division
Attorney Michael Rose, Counsel to the Commission
Natalie Braswell, Assistant Comptroller
Kishore Solanki, Asst. Director, Retirement Services Division
GUESTS
Karen Nolan, Office of Policy and Management
John Gregosian, State Auditor
Matt Rugens, Auditor of Public Accounts
Elaine O'Reilly, Auditor of Public Accounts
Hillary Felton, Robinson & Cole
Ralph Efird, Post Reporting
CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - Nothing to report at this time
Division Director's Administrative Report for the Retirement Commission Meeting
For the August retirement payroll we have 202 new retirees (183 normal, 6 Disabilities, 5 Voluntary Pending and 8 Hybrid). Finalizations for the month of August were 1,104 normal and 8 disabilities. The total audited number of the backlog on unfinalized retirement records is 10,854 regular and 2,013 disabilities. We have an additional 1,000+ pending for the September payroll. Our student interns will be leaving us this Friday and as you can tell by our finalizations they have been instrumental in accomplishing the Division goal with reducing the audit back log.
We have received a total of 1,191 requests to transfer from the ARP to
Hybrid. Of that number 967 were transfers, 211 retirees, 9 waivers, 4
prospective. We received in 29 applications during the month. Of the 967
transfers we have 518 applications waiting to be processed.
Pending Disability Applications as of July 30, 2014
Pending Applications:
228
(applications preliminarily reviewed - 69
(applications waiting for documentation -159
Applications scheduled:
177
Total Pending:
405
FOR THE MONTH OF JULY
Number of Applications Received
10
Number of Applications on Agenda
24
Number of Applications Approved
20
The next available meeting for scheduling is February 2015. To assist with
the back log of disability applications waiting for documentation starting
Monday, August 25th we will have a rehired retiree that works for the Office of
Healthcare Advocate working with us. She will be contacting the employees with a
pending application to assist them with the paperwork that is needed to move
their disability claim forward.
We have finalized the contract for the Employee Benefit Statements with Custom
Communications. A meeting has been scheduled for next week to begin preparation
for the 2014 statements.
NEW MATTERS
1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE JULY 17, 2014 MINUTES. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to approve the July 17, 2014 minutes. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
2. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S PER DIEM EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service retirements for the month of July 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
4. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES SYSTEM RETROACTIVE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive retirements for the month of July 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM VOLUNTARY PENDING RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Voluntary Pending Disability retirements for the month of July 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
6. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM
DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014.
Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut
Employees Retirement System Disability retirements for the month of July 2014.
All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
7. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRE-RETIREMENT DEATH BENEFITS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, Mr. Carey seconded to approve the State Employees Retirement System Disability retirements for the month of July 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
8. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Carey to approve the Municipal Employee Retirement System retirements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
9. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE JUDGES, FAMILY SUPPORT MAGISTRATES AND COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Carey to approve the Judges, Family Support Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System retirements for the month of July 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
10. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT PROBATE JUDGES AND EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND PERSONNEL EXPENSES FOR THE PAY PERIOD JUNE 14 THROUGH JULY 10, 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to approve the Connecticut Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel expenses for the period June 14 through July 10, 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
11. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES DISABILITY RETIREMENT FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD AT ITS JULY 2014 MEETING. Mr. Sal Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Municipal Employees Disability Retirements from the Medical Examining Board at its July 2014 meeting.
12. 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 Trustees Per Diem and Travel expenses. All voted in favor Mr. Baus abstained
Majority Decision
13. 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 Trustees Per Diem and Travel expenses. All voted in favor Mr. Poulin abstained
Majority Decision
14. REVIEW OF BILLING FROM THE OFFICE OF ROSE KALLOR CONCERNING THE BOUCHARD MATTER FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2014. No action required.
15. REQUEST COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ITS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HAZARDOUS DUTY SERVICE CREDIT RENDERED ON JUNE 11, 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to accept the recommendation of its Subcommittee on Hazardous Duty Service Credit rendered on June 11, 2014. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
16. REQUEST FROM AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS TO RECONSIDER THE GASB 68 DECISION FROM JULY 17, 2014 AND ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ACTUARIAL SUBCOMMITTEE FROM ITS MEEETING ON JULY 15, 2014. Because this motion had previously been denied it requires a two-thirds vote to reconsider. Ms. Mandour previously voted to deny so she made the motion to reconsider the GASB 68 decision from the July 17, 2014 meeting. The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton. All voted in favor.
Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to follow the recommendations of GASB 68 and the Actuarial Subcommittee recommendation. All voted in favor.
Unanimous Decision
17. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE LEGAL AND PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEES RECOMMENDATION TO A CONTRACT WITH THE FIRM OF ROBINSON AND COLE AS COUNSEL FOR FEDERAL TAX MATTERS. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to accept the recommendation of the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee recommendation to contract with the firm of Robinson and Cole as counsel for Federal tax matters. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
18. REQUEST RECONSIDERATION OF PARTICIPATION OF THE NEW LONDON FIREFIGHTERS IN THE CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CMERS) EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2014. Because this motion had previously been denied it requires a two-thirds vote to reconsider. Ms. Brown-Brewton previously voted to deny so she made the motion to reconsider the participation of the New London Firefighters into the CMERS. The motion was seconded by Ms. Mandour. The vote was more than two-thirds.
Ms. Mandour moved, Ms. Brown-Brewton seconded to approve the entry of the New
London Firefighters into the CMERS system. A friendly amendment was added by Mr.
Cosgrove that approval is conditional upon receipt of a copy of the letter from
the actuaries stating that there is nobody transferring whose balance is more
than enough to buy this service. (The city will be able to provide a copy of the
letter once the transfer from the city's defined benefit plan to the CMERS has
occurred.) Voted approve: Mr. Carey, Ms. Brown-Brewton, Mr. Coffey, Mr.
Cosgrove, Ms. Yelmini, Mr. Fortier, Mr. Poulin, Ms. Mandour, Mr. Luciano, Mr.
Greatorex. Voted to deny: Mr. Baus and Mr. Casella. Absent from the vote: Mr.
McLellan.
Motion to approve carries.
Majority Decision
19. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE DOCTORS TO STAFF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD. Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton that we approve everyone that is not a State employee that has not withdrawn. All voted in favor.
Unanimous Decision
TABLED ITEM
REVIEW AND RECONSIDER ITS DECEMBER 20, 2012 DENIAL OF VINCENT DEROSA'S CLAIM
CONCERNING HIS RETIREMENT BENEFIT - tabled from the July 17, 2014 meeting, still
waiting on information from the agency. Ms. Mandour moved, seconded by Ms.
Brown-Brewton to table until the September meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Communication from Attorney Rose on pending matters and strategy. Ms. Mandour moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano to go into Executive Session to discuss the following matters: Brown, Maturo, Sampieri and the Saltatine matter and to invite in Ms. Halpin and Mr. Rose.
At 10:59 a.m. Ms. Mandour moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano to come out of
Executive Session.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Brown-Brewton moved to adjourn at 11:00 a.m., seconded by Mr. Poulin
| _________________________ | _______________________ |
| Brenda K. Halpin, Director | Peter R. Blum, Chair |
| Retirement Services Division |
Return to Meetings, Agendas and Minutes Home Page
Return to Comptroller's Home Page