 |
|
|
January 16, 2014
TRUSTEES PRESENT
Peter Blum
Robert Baus
Sandra Fae Brown-Brewton
Michael Carey
Charles Casella
Robert Coffey
Richard Cosgrove
Paul Fortier
Steve Greatorex
Sal Luciano
Laila Mandour
Ronald McLellan
Claude Poulin
Linda Yelmini
TRUSTEES ABSENT
James Dzurenda
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Martha Carlson, Deputy Comptroller (absent)
Lee Ann Palladino, CIO, State Treasurer
MUNICIPAL LIAISON
Thomas Landry
OTHERS PRESENT
Brenda Halpin, Director Retirement Services Division
Natalie Braswell, Assistant Comptroller
Colin Newman, Assistant Division Director, Retirement Services Division
Nicole Dorman, Counsel to the Commission
Nancy Perrato, Court Reporter
Karen Nolin, Office of Policy & Management
Margaret Haering, Assistant Division Director, Healthcare Policy & Benefit
Services Division
GUESTS
Lilly Phillips
Winfred Phillips
CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Nothing to report at this time.
DIVISION DIRECTOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Following the close of the January retirement payroll, the Division processed
169 new retirees (143 normal, 8 disabilities, 6 Voluntary Pending and 12
Hybrid). Finalizations for the month of January were 115 normal and 5
disabilities. The total number of the backlog on unfinalized retirement records
is approximately 11,980.
We have received a total of 1,009 requests to transfer from the ARP to Hybrid.
Of that number 846 were transfers, 151 retirees, 9 waivers, 4 prospective. We
received in 61 applications during the month.
Pending Disability Applications as of December 31, 2013
Pending Applications: 228
Applications preliminarily reviewed - 49
Applications waiting for documentation -179
Applications scheduled: 197
Total Pending: 425
FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
Number of Applications Received 11
Number of Applications on Agenda 21
Number of Applications Approved 11
At the present time, we are reviewing cases from the January 2014. The next
available meeting for scheduling is August 2014.
We have received a request from the Town of Bethlehem, Public Works Department
to participate in MERS.
We are continuing our working with Accenture on Phase I of the Pension Module
Project. The staff continue to attend daily meetings with the Accenture team to
document our requirements and procedures.
NEW MATTERS
1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 19, 2013 MINUTES Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2013 Commission meeting. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
2. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S PER DIEM EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem Expense reimbursements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employee Retirement System Service Retirements for the month of December 2013. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
4. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES SYSTEM VOLUNTARY PENDING RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the month of December 2013. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETROACTIVE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut Employees Retirement System Retroactive Retirements for the month of December 2013 All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
6. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut Employees Retirement System Disability Retirements for the month of December 2013. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
7. 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
8. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT PROBATE JUDGES AND EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
9. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT JUDGES, FAMILY SUPPORT MAGISTRATES AND COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut Judges, Family Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System Retirements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
10. 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 Expense Reimbursements. All voted in favor Mr. Baus abstained
Unanimous Decision
11. 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 Expense Reimbursements. All voted in favor Mr. Poulin abstained
Unanimous Decision
12. REQUEST COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD FROM ITS MEETING ON November 1, 2013 and November 22, 2013 RELATIVE TO APPLICATIONS FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT RECEIVED FROM THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to accept the recommendations of the Medical Examining Board from its meetings on November 1, 2013 and November 22, 2013 relative to applications for disability retirement received from the Municipal Employees Retirement System. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
13. REQUEST COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE OF THE ROLL FORWARD ACTUARIAL VALUATION REPORT PREPARED AS OF JUNE 30, 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to accept the Roll Forward Actuarial Valuation Report Prepared as of June 30, 2013. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
14. REQUEST COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONNECTICUT JUDGES AND EMPLOYEES PERSONNEL EXPENSES PAY PERIOD NOVEMBER 15 THROUGH DECEMBER 12, 2013 Mr. Fortier moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano to accept the Connecticut Judges and Employees Personnel Expenses Pay Period November 15 through December 12, 2013. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
15. REQUEST FROM LILLY PHILLIPS THAT THE COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECONSIDER HER MONTHLY PENSION BENEFIT AND THE APPLICABLE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (IRC) SECTION 415 LIMIT Mr. Fortier moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano to have a list of the retirees that are in a similar situation as Ms. Phillps be provided to the Commission Trustees and to table this matter until the February 20, 2014 Retirement Commission meeting. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
16. REPRESENTATION OF THE MEDICAL EXAMING BOARD AND THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION ON THE LEFF MATTER This matter was resolved with Attorney General's Office prior to the Retirement Commission meeting. No action is required.
17. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL TO DEVELOP AN RFP FOR THE POSITION OF COMMISSION COUNSEL FOR IRS MATTERS AND AUTHORIZE THE LEGAL AND PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEE TO SPEND UP TO $15,000 TO ADVERTISE FOR THE POSITION Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2013 Commission meeting. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
18. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGAL AND PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEE THROUGH THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH ROSE KALLOR AS COUNSEL TO THE COMMISSION Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve with a friendly amendment, to authorize the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee through the Chairman to negotiate the agreement and sign an agreement with Rose Kallor as counsel to the Commission. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
19. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL TO AMEND THE ALTERNATE RETIREMENT PROGRAM (ARP) PLAN DOCUMENT LANGUAGE SECTION 3.01 ON SEPERATION FROM SERVICE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE IRS FOR A DETERMINATION LETTER AS PART OF CYCLE C Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the amendments to the Alternate Retirement Program (ARP) Plan Document Language as provided and to submit the changes to the IRS for a determination letter as part of the Cycle C process. Majority Decision - Mr. Carey voted Nay.
Majority Decision
TABLED ITEMS
REQUEST RECEIVED FROM PHYLLIS ALSTON THAT THE COMMISSION POSTHUMOUSLY CHANGE DECEASED RETIREE JOSEPH ALSTON'S STRAIGHT LIFE ANNUITY OPTION ELECTION AS THEY WERE MARRIED AT THE TIME OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM SERS Ms. Mandour moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to deny Ms. Alston's request to posthumously change deceased retiree Joseph Alston's election for a straight life annuity option to provide a retirement benefit to Ms. Alston. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
REQUEST RECEIVED FROM DONNA SAMPIERI THAT THE COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECONSIDER ITS DECEMBER 20, 2012 DENIAL OF HER REQUEST TO TRANSFER FROM TIER II TO TIER I IN SERS Mr. Poulin moved, seconded by Mr. Baus to deny Ms. Sampieri's request to transfer from Tier II to Tier I in the State Employee Retirement System. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 11:22 a.m. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Casella to move into Executive Session for discussion of legal issues in the Leff matter and to discuss strategy for the contract for Commission Counsel. Assistant Comptroller Ms. Braswell and Division Director Ms. Halpin were invited to stay for the discussion. All voted in favor.
At 11:36 a.m. Ms. Mandour moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to return to regular session. All voted in favor
NO MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:37 a.m. Ms. Mandour moved to adjourn.
| _________________________ | _______________________ |
| 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