MINUTES OF MEETING
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION
55 ELM STREET
HARTFORD, CT 06106

September 19, 2013

TRUSTEES PRESENT
Peter Blum
Robert Baus
Sandra Fae Brown-Brewton
Michael Carey
Charles Casella
Steve Greatorex
Sal Luciano
Ronald McLellan
Claude Poulin
Linda Yelmini
Paul Fortier
Laila Mandour
James Dzurenda
Richard Cosgrove - Via Phone

TRUSTEES ABSENT
Robert Coffey

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Martha Carlson, Deputy Comptroller
Lee Ann Palladino, CIO, Treasurer'S Office

MUNICIPAL LIAISON
Thomas Landry

OTHERS PRESENT
Brenda Halpin, Director, Retirement Services Division
Peggy Gray, Executive Secretary, Retirement Services Division
Natalie Braswell, Asst. Comptroller

GUESTS
Nicole Dorman, Temporary Legal Counsel for the Commission

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

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
The Chairman has updates for Executive Session.

DIRECTOR'S DIVISION AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Following the close of the September 2013 retirement payroll, the Division processed 150 new retirees (111 normal, 14 disabilities, 6 Voluntary Pending and 19 Hybrid). We processed 82 finalizations for the month September.

We have received a total of 849 requests to transfer from the ARP to Hybrid. Of that number 700 were transfers, 137 retirees, 9 waivers, 3 prospective.

Pending Disability Applications as of August 30, 2013
Applications preliminarily reviewed: 65
Applications awaiting documentation: 211
Applications scheduled: 139
Total Pending: 415

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AUGUST
Number of Applications Received 26 18
Number of Applications on Agenda 21 47
Number of Applications Approved 11 28

At the present time, we are reviewing cases from July 2013. The next available meeting for scheduling is March 2014.

We processed approximately 14,000 CO-1094 forms related to the SEBAC 2011 Option to Retain Grandfathered Normal Retirement Date.

The town of Bethany Public Works employees and the employees of the Old Mystic Fire Department are interested in joining CMERS. We have provided information to both units.

I have provided assistance to the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee with the RFP for legal services for the Commission. The RFP should be posted by tomorrow and the responses will be due on October 25th.

NEW MATTERS

1. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 15, 2013 MINUTES Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Baus to approve the August 15, 2013 minutes. 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 Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman'S Per Diem expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

3. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SERVICE RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service retirements for the month of August 2013. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

4. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM DISABILITY RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Disability retirements for the month of August 2013. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

5. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM VOLUNTARY PENDING RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Voluntary Pending retirements for the month of August 2013. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

6. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRE RETIREMENT DEATH RETIREMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Pre Retirement Death Retirements for the month of August 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 FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2013 Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System retirements for the month of September 2013. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

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

Unanimous Decision

10. REQUEST COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD FROM ITS MEETINGS ON APRIL 5, MAY 24, AND JUNE 7, 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 April 5, May 24 and June 7, 2013 relative to applications for Disability Retirement received from the Municipal Employees Retirement System. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

11. REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE PARTICIPATION OF REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 16, BUSINESS OFFICE IN THE CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CMERS), EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to table this item for further information. All voted in favor of tabling this item.

Unanimous Decision

12. 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 Expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor Mr. Baus abstained

Majority Decision

13. 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 Expenses reimbursements. All voted in favor Mr. Poulin abstained

Majority Decision

14. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION TRUSTEE LINDA YELMINI FOR THE SAG AWARD MEETING IN WASHINGTON, DC. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the travel reimbursement for State Employees Retirement Commission Trustee Linda Yelmini for the SAG Award meeting in Washington, DC. All voted in favor Ms. Yelmini abstained

Majority Decision

15. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION TRUSTEE STEPHEN GREATOREX FOR THE SAG AWARD MEETING IN WASHINGTON, DC. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to approve the travel reimbursement for State Employees Retirement Commission Trustee Stephen Greatorex for the SAG award meeting in Washington, DC. All voted in favor Mr. Greatorex abstained

Majority Decision

16. REQUEST COMMISSION APPROVAL OF MODIFICATION #448 TO THE CONNECTICUT STATE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Fortier. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

17. FOI PROCEDURES ON REQUESTS - Just an update from Deputy Comptroller Martha Carlson on the procedures when FOI requests are received. No motion taken

TABLED MATTER

A. REQUEST PARTICIPATION OF THE LISBON SCHOOL DISTRICT CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, IN THE CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2013. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve participation of the Lisbon School District Central Office Staff in the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System Effective September 1, 2013. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

EXECUTIVE SESSION At 9:36 a.m. Mr.Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Brown-Brewton to go into Executive Session with Attorney Nicole Dorman, Attorney Natalie Braswell, Director Brenda Halpin and Thomas Landry included for the purpose of discussing correspondence from Robinson and Cole, a communication from Ice Miller, the Leff matter, the Maturo matter, the Bouchard Matter, the Macari matter, the hiring of Commission Counsel, contractual billing and an update on the 415 (b) ruling. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

Note: Attorney Nicole Dorman left the meeting prior to the discussion of the hiring of Commission Counsel, correspondence from Robinson & Cole and communication from Ice Miller.

END OF EXECUTIVE SESSION At 11:15 a.m. Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano to return to Regular Session. All voted in favor

Unanimous Decision

The following motions were made:

Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin that Attorney Dorman will contact Mr. Leff'S attorney.

Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin that a special meeting of the Retirement Commission will be held in November regarding the Maturo matter.

Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin that a letter be sent to Mr. Carter'S attorney to attend the October 17th Retirement Commission meeting.

Ms. Yelmini moved, seconded by Mr. Luciano that if you work in a MERS municipality, retire with a MERS pension and go to work in another municipality, it is acceptable to continue to collect your MERS pension as long as you are not working in a position covered by MERS in that municipality. If you retire with a MERS pension you cannot return to work in the same municipality and continue to receive your MERS pension. All voted in favor.

Unanimous Decision

ADJOURNMENT At 11: 19 a.m. Mr. Carey moved, seconded by Mr. Casella to Adjourn. All voted in favor.

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