DRAFT
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION

A continuation of the regular meeting of the State Employees Retirement Commission (the "Commission") was held on March 27, 2017, in 3rd Floor Conference Room at 55 Elm Street, Hartford Connecticut. The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. and the following members of the Commission were present or via phone:

• Peter Adomeit, Chairman
• Michael Carey, Trustee (via phone)
• Charles Casella, Trustee (via phone)
• Robert D. Coffey, Trustee (via phone)
• Richard M. Cosgrove, Trustee (via phone)
• Matthew Hart, Municipal Liaison (via phone)
• Laila Mandour, Trustee
• Ronald McLellan, Trustee
• Claude Poulin, Trustee (via phone)
• Angel Quiros, Trustee (via phone)
• Martha Carlson, Deputy Comptroller, Ex Officio Member
  
  

The following members of the Commission were absent:

• Sandra Fae Brown Brewton, Trustee
• Paul Fortier, Trustee
• Lisa Grasso Egan, Trustee
• Steven Greatorex, Trustee
• Sal Luciano, Trustee
• Laurie Martin, acting CIO, Office of the State Treasurer, Ex Officio Member

Also present were:

• Cindy Cieslak, General Counsel to the Commission Ford Harrison
• Natalie Braswell, General Counsel to the Comptroller
• Colin Newman, Office of the State Comptroller
• Amanda Alfonso, Retirement Services Division

A. Call to Order
Chairman Adomeit called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.

1. Ford Harrison Contract Option -action.
   1. Mr. Carey moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to move the Commission to exercise its option to extend the Ford Harrison contract for a one year period.
   2. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
   3. At 9:05 a.m. the Commission voted unanimously in favor to extend the Ford Harrison contract for a one year period.
       
2. Diaz Request dated January 30, 2017 -action.
   1. Mr. McLellan moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to treat Ms. Diaz letter as a petition for declaratory ruling and advise her that the Commission will issue a declaratory ruling by July 29, 2017.
   2. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
   3. At 9:06, the Commission voted unanimously in favor to treat Ms. Diaz letter as a petition for declaratory ruling and advise her that the Commission will issue a declaratory ruling by July 29, 2017.
       
3. Pine - action.
   1. The Commission has received Attorney Friedman's request for re-review on behalf of Nancy Pine, and on March 16, 2017, Ms. Pine's attorney appeared before the Commission. The Commission has reconsidered its decision of May 19, 2016. After having reviewed all of Ms. Pine's contentions regarding procedural irregularities, including statutory violations, breach of Due Process and Equal Protection, breach of fiduciary duty, and arbitrary and capricious action, as well as the other items identified in Ms. Pine's Petition to reverse the MEB dated January 22, 2016, Mr. McLellan moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to deny Ms. Pine's request because the Commission has not found any procedural irregularities. Additionally, the Commission makes no findings with respect to petitioner's due process or equal protection arguments because the Commission is without jurisdiction under Connecticut law to consider constitutional challenges. Finally, the Commission is without authority to reverse the MEB's medical determinations under these circumstances.
   2. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
   3. At 9:09, the Commission voted unanimously to deny Ms. Pine's request because the Commission has not found any procedural irregularities.
      Additionally, the Commission makes no findings with respect to petitioner's due process or equal protection arguments because the Commission is without jurisdiction under Connecticut law to consider constitutional challenges. Finally, the Commission is without authority to reverse the MEB?s medical determinations under these circumstances.
       
4. Review of MEB decisions from January packet -action.
   1. Mr. McLellan moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to table the MEB decisions to the April meeting.
   2. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
   3. At 9:10, the Commission voted unanimously to table the MEB decisions to the April meeting.

With no further business before the Commission, Mr. Carey moved, seconded by Mr. McLellan to adjourn at 9:10 a.m. The Commission voted unanimously to adjourn.

Respectfully Submitted by:

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Peter Adomeit, Chairman

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Prepared by Brenda K. Halpin
Director Retirement Service Division

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