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MINUTES OF MEETING
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
55 ELM STREET
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106
September 15, 2011
TRUSTEES PRESENT
Peter Blum, Chair
Charles Casella
Claude Poulin
Michael Carey
Linda Yelmini
Bob Coffey
Richard Cosgrove
Ronald McLellan
Thomas Culley
Bob Baus
Paul Fortier
Steve Greatorex
James Dzurenda
State Comptroller, Kevin Lembo - Ex Officio
TRUSTEES ABSENT
Sal Luciano
Fae Brown-Brewton
Thomas Landry - Municipal Liaison
OTHERS PRESENT
LeeAnn Palidino, Treasury
Brenda Halpin, Director, Retirement Services Division
Jeanne Kopek, Asst. Director, Retirement Services Division
Helen Kemp, Asst. Director, Attorney for Retirement Services Division
Colin Newman, Asst. Director, Retirement Services Division
Natalie Braswell, General Counsel to the State Comptroller
Marilyn Rodriguez, Retirement Services Division
Peggy Gray, Exec. Asst., Retirement Services Division
Nancy Perrotti, Court Reporter
GUESTS
Darek Massalski
Robert Brackett
CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:10 AM
Chairman's Report
State Comptroller Kevin Lembo introduced Brenda Halpin as the new Director of
Retirement Services. Brenda is a long-time employee of the State
Comptroller's Office with years of valuable experience to bring to the Division.
The State Comptroller also thanked Jeanne Kopek, Acting Director, for stepping
in when called upon during a term of transition within the agency.
DIVISION DIRECTOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Following the close of the September 2011 Retirement Payroll, the current backlog of unfinalized Retirement records is approximately 12, 522. The Division processed 315 new Retirees to the payroll. 290 were normal, and 25 were disabilities. Finalizations for the month were 39.
Pending Disability applications as of August 31, 2011 are as follows. There are 82 pending applications, 273 that have been waiting for further documentation, and 166 applications scheduled for upcoming meeting of the Medical Examining Board for a total of 521 applications. For the month of August, 32 applications were received, 27 were placed on the agenda and 15 applications were approved by the MEB.
Time has been approved for Retirement Division employees in anticipation of a large number of Retirement applications for the October 1, 2011 payroll.
The Medical Examining Board met on September 2, 2011 with new appointees in place. There was discussion on ways to eliminate the backlog. Board meetings are scheduled for approximately every two weeks in the hopes of eliminating the backlog by the end of the year. The State Comptroller has also dedicated Executive Office staff to assist in the process.
NEW MATTERS
1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 18, 2011 MINUTES. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the August 18, 2011 minutes to also include that Mr. Cosgrove voted in the affirmative on Item 13 on the agenda. Also Item # 14 from August meeting would be placed back on the agenda following a meeting by the Actuarial Subcommittee on the issue. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
2. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S PER DIEM EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS. Mr. Cosgrove moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem expenses and reimbursements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH ON AUGUST, 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the month of August, 2011. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
4. REQUEST COMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM VOLUNTARY PENDING DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the State Employees Retirement System Voluntary Pending Disability retirements for the month of August, 2011. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the State Employees Retirement System Disability retirements for the month of August, 2011. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
6. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETROACTIVE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the State Employees Retirement System Retroactive retirements for the month of August, 2011. 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 AUGUST, 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the State Employees Retirement System Pre Retirement Death Benefit retirements for the month of August, 2011. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
8. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE JUDGES, FAMILY MAGISTRATES AND COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS RETIREMENTS SYSTEM RETIREMENTS FOR AUGUST 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Judges, Family Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System retirements for the month of August, 2011. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
9. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT PROBATE JUDGES AND EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND PERSONAL EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2011. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Connecticut Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personal Expenses for the month of July, 2011. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
10. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREMENTS. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Municipal Employees Retirements System retirements. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
11. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION MANAGEMENT TRUSTEES PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS. Mr. Cosgrove moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Management Trustees Per Diem and Travel Expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor Mr. Baus abstained
Majority Decision
12. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENTS COMMISSION UNION TRUSTEES PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENTS. Mr. Greatorex moved, seconded by Mr. Cosgrove to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustees Per Diem and Travel Expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor Mr. Poulin abstained
13. REQUEST COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM BENJAMIN BARNES, SECTRETARY OF THE OFFICE OF POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, FOR AN INTERIM ACTUARIAL VALUATION OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM. Secretary Benjamin Barnes will be notified that all State Entities are able to contract with the Actuaries for information that they request, at their own expense, without coming before the Retirement Commission.
14. REQUEST COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM MR. DAREK MASSALSKI FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM ?RATE OF SALARY? AS USED IN ISSUE 25 OF THE 1998-1994 PENSION ARBITRATION AWARD. Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Ms. Yelmini to have the Retirement Commission confirms Retirement Division staff's interpretation with regard to the phrase ?Rate of Salary? used in the calculation of the 60% minimum disability retirement benefit. All voted in favor. The Division will inform Mr. Massalski.
Unanimous Decision
At 10:45 AM Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into Executive Session to discuss Items 15 and 16 on the Agenda. Ms. Halpin, Mr. Lembo, Ms. Palidino, Ms. Braswell, Ms. Kopek, Ms. Kemp and Mr. Newman remained in the room for the discussion. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
At 11:03 AM Mr. Greatorex moved, seconded by Mr. Cosgrove to return to Regular Session. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision
15. UPDATE ON STATUS OF REMAND ORDER BY COURT ON DICKMAN LITIGATION AND SUBSEQUENT ACTION REQUIRED BY THE COMMISSION
NO MOTION WAS MADE ON THIS ITEM. Outside of executive session, the Division Counsel was reminded by the Chairman that the supplemental ruling should be ready for Commission approval at its October meeting so that it can be returned to court as soon as possible thereafter.
16. REPORT ON SUBCOMMITTEE STATUS/ACTION WITH REGARD TO THE RFP ON OBTAIN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR ADVICE ON PLAN ADMINISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION UNDER IRC SECTION 401 (a) AND SUBSEQUENT ACTION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE COMMISSION AND/OR OSC WITH REGARD TO THE SECTION 415 ISSUE
NO MOTION WAS MADE ON THIS ITEM
Before the meeting was adjourned, the Chairman, Peter Blum, made a presentation to Jeanne Kopek on behalf of the Trustees. The Trustees thanked Jeanne for all her hard work, taking on two jobs as Director and her role supervising several important units in the Retirement Division.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Baus moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to adjourn the meeting at 11:15. All voted in favor
Unanimous Decision - Meeting Adjourned
______________________________
___________________
Brenda Halpin, Director,
Peter R. Blum, Chairman
Retirement Services Division
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