MINUTES OF MEETING
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
55 ELM STREET
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106

January 13, 2011

TRUSTEES PRESENT

Peter Blum, Chair
Charles Casella
Claude Poulin - by phone
Michael Carey
Linda Yelmini - by phone
Fae Brown-Brewton
Sal Luciano
Bob Coffey
Ronald McLellan
James Dzurenda
Thomas Culley
Steve Greatorex
Bob Baus - by phone

TRUSTEES ABSENT

Paul Fortier
Richard Cosgrove

MUNICIPAL LIAISON

Thomas Landry

OTHERS PRESENT

Jeanne Kopek, Director, Retirement Services
Helen Kemp, Asst. Director and Division Attorney, Retirement Services
Colin Newman, Asst. Director, Retirement Services
Peggy Gray, Executive Asst., Retirement Services

CALL TO ORDER

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The only business of the Chair was to ask for a motion to accept the 2011 Retirement Commission Calendar as handed out at the November meeting. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Culley to approve the 2011 Retirement Commission Calendar as provided to the Commission at the November meeting. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

DIVISION DIRECTOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

An opinion on the ARP award was given to Commission members to look over. It is important to have a Special meeting of the Commission as soon as possible. A meeting date of January 19, 2011 at 10:00 AM was set.

Following the close of the January 2011 Retirement Payroll, the current backlog of unfinalized Retirement records is approximately 10, 989. The Retirement Division processed 148 new retirees to the payroll (135 normal, 13 disabilities). Finalizations for the month were 40. The Division is currently finalizing September 2005 retirements.

As of December 31, 2010 the Division had 68 new pending Disability applications. We have 258 applications pending further documentation and 134 applications are scheduled for upcoming MEB meetings. For the month of December we received 23 applications, 23 were placed on the agenda and 12 applications were approved. At this time the next available meeting for scheduling is August 2011.

Just a reminder, at this time we only have 3 physicians on the MEB instead of the usual 7. This has affected our ability to schedule cases and to receive responses back from the MEB on the cases they have heard. We are working with the Comptroller to fill more slots on the MEB.

Colin Newman asked that members of the Purchasing Subcommittee look at their calendars for available dates in March to meet.

NEW MATTERS

1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 16, 2010 MINUTES. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to approve the minutes of December 16, 2010. 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. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF
DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement System Service retirements for the month of December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

4. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEMS VOLUNTARY PENDING DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Systems Voluntary Pending Disability retirements for the month of December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement System Disability retirements for the month of December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

6. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETROACTIVE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement System Retroactive Retirements for the month of December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

7. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRE RETIREMENT DEATH BENEFIT RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement System Pre Retirement Death Benefit retirements for the month of December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

8. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT PROBATE JUDGES AND EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Service retirements for December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

9. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE JUDGES, FAMILY SUPPORT MAGISTRATES AND COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS FOR DECEMBER 2010. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Judges, Family Support Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement system Retirements for December 2010. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

10. 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

11. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION UNION TRUSTEE'S PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. McLellan to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee's Per Diem and Travel Expenses Reimbursements. All voted in favor, Mr. Poulin abstained.

Majority Decision

12. REQUEST APPROVAL OF ONE MATTER CONSIDERED AT THE NOVEMBER 30, 2010 MEETING OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON REGULATIONS AND OVERPAYMENTS (case history attached)

Casey Reidy (MERS) - (contingent annuitants) Overpayment due to SSDI.
The minor daughter of deceased member has been overpaid due to the member's unreported SSDI award (he chose a twenty year certain- daughter is a contingent annuitant under that option).

Action: Mr. Luciano moved; Mr. Greatorex second to accept the recommendation of the Overpayment Subcommittee and grant Miss Reidy's request for a waiver of repayment of an overpayment with regard to the minor daughter as she met all the statutory and regulatory requirements required for approval.

Unanimous Decision

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to adjourn the meeting at 10:19 AM. All voted in favor

_____________________
Peter R. Blum, Chair

___________________________
Jeanne Kopek, Director, Retirement Services

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