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

November 20, 2008

TRUSTEES PRESENT
Peter R. Blum, Chairman
Bob Baus
S. Fae Brown-Brewton
Steve Caliendo
Charles Casella
Robert Coffey
Thomas Culley
Paul Fortier
Steve Greatorex
Sal Luciano
Mary Marcial
Ronald McLellan
Claude Poulin
Linda Yelmini

ABSENT
Richard Cosgrove
Jeffrey Smith, Municipal Liaison

OTHERS PRESENT
Dr. Thomas Woodruff, Director, Retirement Services Division
Margaret Haering, Assistant Director, Retirement Services Division
Helen Kemp, Assistant Director, Counsel for the Retirement Services Division
Jeanne Kopek, Assistant Director, Retirement Services Division
Colin Newman, Assistant Director, Retirement Services Division
Joseph Lantieri, Retirement & Benefits Services Division, Disability Unit
Marilyn Rodriguez, Secretary II, Retirement Services Division
Karen Buffkin, Counsel for the State Comptroller

GUESTS

George Spurlock, Connecticut Employees Union Independent

CALL TO ORDER

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman reserved his report on the Legal Personnel subcommittee for later in the meeting during the executive session of the Trustees to discuss legal strategy .

DIVISION DIRECTOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

Administrative

The Director reported that the current backlog of unfinalized State Employees Retirement System (SERS) accounts is approximately 6,607 with 87 new retirees for the month; consisting of 54 normal retirements and 33 disability retirements; 154 applications were finalized, total number of retirement files completed for the month totaled 241; 28 new disability applications were received and 48 applications were put on the Medical Examining Board agenda; 35 disability applications were approved. Currently, there are 43 disability applications pending, 296 incomplete applications, and 170 denied applications with a total of 509 pending / incomplete disability applications as of October, 2008.

Subcommittees

Purchase of Service and Other Related Matters Subcommittee will hold a meeting immediately following Commission Meeting; will address 12 - 15 cases.

1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 16, 2008 MINUTES

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the October 16, 2008 minutes as amended. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

2. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 31, 2008 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE RETIREMENT COMMISSION

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the October 31, 2008 minutes of the Special Meeting of the Commission as amended. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's per diem and travel expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

4. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement System service retirements for the month of October 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT
SYSTEM VOLUNTARY PENDING DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH
OF OCTOBER 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement System voluntary pending disability retirements for the month of October 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

6. REQUEST COMMISSION REVIEW OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2008 APPROVED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to note and accept the State Employees Retirement System disability retirements for the month of October 2008 approved by the Medical Examining Board as of September 30, 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

7. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETROACTIVE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement System retroactive retirements for the month of October 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

8. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRE RETIREMENT DEATH BENEFIT RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement System pre retirement death benefit retirements for the month of October 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

9. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the Municipal Retirement System Retirements. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

10. REQUEST COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD FROM IT'S MEETINGS OF OCTOBER 3, 2008 AND OCTOBER 31, 2008 RELATIVE TO APPLICATIONS FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT RECEIVED FROM THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to accept the recommendations of the Medical Examining Board from it's meetings of October 3, 2008 and October 31, 2008 relative to applications for disability retirement received from the Municipal Employees Retirement System. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

11. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION MANAGEMENT TRUSTEE'S PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Management Trustee's per diem travel expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor.

Voting in favor of the motion: Ms. Brown-Brewton, Mr. Caliendo, Mr. Casella, Mr. Coffey, Mr. Culley, Mr. Fortier, Mr. Greatorex, Mr. Luciano, Ms. Marcial, Mr. McLellan, Mr. Poulin and Ms. Yelmini.

Abstaining: Mr. Baus

Majority Decision

12. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE PARKING EXPENSES INCURRED BY CHARLES CASELLA FOR COMMISSION MEETINGS BETWEEN AUGUST 6, 2008 AND OCTOBER 15, 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the parking expenses incurred by Charles Casella for Commission Meetings between August 6, 2008 and October 15, 2008. All voted in favor.

Voting in favor of the motion: Mr. Baus, Ms. Brown-Brewton, Mr. Caliendo, Mr Coffey, Mr. Culley, Mr. Fortier, Mr. Greatorex, Mr. Luciano, Ms. Marcial, Mr. McLellan, Mr. Poulin and Ms. Yelmini.

Abstaining: Mr. Casella

Majority Decision

13. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION UNION TRUSTEE'S PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee's per diem travel expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor.

Voting in favor of the motion: Mr. Baus, Ms. Brown-Brewton, Mr. Caliendo, Mr. Casella, Mr. Coffey, Mr. Culley, Mr. Fortier, Mr. Greatorex, Mr. Luciano, Ms. Marcial, Mr. McLellan, and Ms. Yelmini.

Abstaining: Mr. Poulin

Majority Decision

14. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT PROBATE JUDGES AND EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND PERSONAL EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2008

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the Connecticut Probate Judges and employees retirement fund personal expenses for the month of October 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

15. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE OF THE JUDGES, FAMILY SUPPORT MAGISTRATES AND COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve the Judges, Family Support Magistrates
and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System retirements. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

16. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE RETIREMENT COMMISSION'S MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE 2009 CALENDAR YEAR

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to approve as ammended the Retirement Commission's Meeting Schedule for the 2009 calendar year. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

TABLED MATTER

17. AGENDA ITEM NO 17, AUGUST 28, 2008 REQUEST COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF THE JUNE 15, 2007 RECOMMENDATION OF ITS SUBCOMMITTEE ON PURCHASE OF SERVICE AND RELATED MATTERS IN THE CASE OF GIACOMO MORDENTE III's LATE REQUEST TO PURCHASE HIS PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE UNDER CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES 5-180(b)

ADDENDUM ITEMS

18. DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE AUDITORS' LONG STANDING FINDINGS CONCERNING MERS AND THE CALCULATIONS OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS No action taken

19. APPEARANCE OF BECKY SEILMAN, CONSULTING ACTUARY MILLIMAN, TO REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM VALUATION AS OF JUNE 30, 2008

Ms. Brown-Brewton moved, seconded by Mr. Fortier to accept the report on the State Employees Retirement System valuation as of June 30, 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

State Comptroller Nancy Wyman met with the Commission to discuss the report of the State auditors regarding their audit of the Retirement Services Division for the period 2003-2006. Commission members expressed their concern over inaccuracies in the report regarding expense reports of the Chairman and the management and labor actuaries and that they had not had an opportunity to review and comment on the report prior to its release. In addition, Commission members and the Comptroller discussed newspaper articles that reported additional information not contained in the Auditors report that contained additional inaccuracies regarding the expense reports of the Commission members.

Both the Comptroller and the Division Director pledged that any future draft audit reports would be sent to the Commission upon receipt by the agency and prior to agency comment and the release of the report by the State Auditors.

20. APPEARANCE OF BECKY SEILMAN, CONSULTING ACTUARY MILLIMAN, TO REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE JUDGES, FAMILY SUPPORT MAGISTRATES, COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM VALUATION AS OF JUNE 30, 2008

Ms. Brown-Brewton moved, seconded by Mr. Fortier to accept the report on the State Judges, Family Support Magistrates, Compensation Commissioners Retirement System valuation as of June 30, 2008. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

DISCUSSION

IN THE MATTER OF SHARON LEE ALBUQUERQUE. MS. ALBUQUERQUE (SPOUSE OF A DECEASED CMERS MEMBER) FILED AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL OF THE COMMISSION'S AUGUST 28, 2008 DECLARATORY RULING DENYING HER REQUEST TO ALLOW A POSTHUMOUS CHANGE IN RETIREMENT INCOME. THE APPEAL WAS RECEIVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND AN APPEARANCE FILED ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION

No action taken.

Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano for the Trustees to enter into Executive Session at 11:10 a.m. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

Mr. McLellan moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to go out of executive session at 12:55 p.m. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Brown - Brewton moved, seconded by Mr. McLellan to adjourn the meeting.
All voted in favor.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 1:00 p.m.

______________________________
Peter R. Blum. Chairman
State Employees Retirement Commission

_________________________________
Thomas C. Woodruff, Ph.D., Director

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