Retirement Division February 21, 2016 Minutes of Meeting Retirement Commission

STATE OF CONNECTICUT
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION

A regular meeting of the State Employees Retirement Commission (the "Commission") was held on February 18, 2016, in 7th Floor Conference Room at 55 Elm Street, Hartford Connecticut. The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. and the following members of the Commission were present:

The following members of the Commission were absent:

Also present were:

A. Call to Order
Chairman Adomeit called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m.

B. Chairman's Report:
A letter was drafted to be sent out to various classes of MERS retirees working or not working and we are in the process of mailing those letters out.

C. Division Director's Report

For the February retirement payroll we had 170 new retirees (149 normal, 11 disabilities, 4 Voluntary Pending and 6 Hybrid). There were 3 disabilities and 61 normal retirements finalized for the month. The current backlog of audits is 2,175 Disabilities and 12,409 regular retirements.

On the ARP to Hybrid transfers there are 365 retirees, 1,527 transfers, 9 waivers and 4 prospective for a total of 1,892. We were able to process 10 transfers this month and the outstanding number to be audited and processed is 662.

Pending Disability Applications as of January 31, 2016

Pending Applications:    272
applications preliminarily reviewed (105)   
applications waiting for documentation (167)   
Applications scheduled for upcoming MEB meetings:    40
Total Pending:    312
   
FOR THE MONTH OF January    
Number of Applications Received    15
Number of Applications on Agenda    19
Number of Applications Approved    16

The next available meeting for scheduling is April 2016. The healthcare ombudsman will be returning next Monday to continue her work with assisting on the applications waiting for documentation.

The Division mailed out the fourth and final 2015 MERS Re-employment Survey to 108 retirees. Responses were received back from all except 48. The Division has advised the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee. In addition, the 2016 MERS Re-employment Survey has been mailed out to all MERS retirees with a response date of March 1, 2016. With this survey the Division fax number was included and an on-line feature. To date we have had over 700 members respond on-line.

On February 29, 2016 the next phase of the Pension Module will be implemented which includes data that is being converting from the legacy systems and enhancements to the Retirement Payroll portion of the system.

1. There was no discussion on the Division Director Report.

Deputy Comptroller Martha Carlson gave an update on the pension module. The pension module is on schedule to go live on February 29, 2016 and all new enrollments will be entered into the new system which will run parallel to the old system during the months of February, March and April. On May 17, 2016, all historical data will be entered. On a weekly basis the individuals involved in the pension project attend "go or no go" meetings in which every task that needs to be completed before February 29th is discussed. The pension module has successfully been tested. Deputy Comptroller Martha Carlson has concerns about UCONN. Deputy Comptroller Martha Carlson also pointed out that she has redeployed executive staff to help on the pension project. She also told the Commission that the monies for the consultants come out of the consultant budget. Mr. Greatorex asked Deputy Comptroller Carlson to elaborate on the new enrollment process on February 29th.

2. Brenda notified the Commission that the Actuarial Subcommittee met yesterday and the Commission has the GASB reports to approve.
i. Ms. Mandour moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to amend the agenda to include the GASB 67 and 68 reports.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was no discussion.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to amend the agenda to approve the GASB 67 and 68 reports.
iv. Mr. Poulin moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the GASB 67 reports.
v. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was no discussion.
vi. The Commission voted unanimously to accept the GASB 67 and 68 reports from the actuaries.

3. Ms. Katherine Miller arrived for the hearing. The Commission voted to suspend the regular order of business to take up the hearing.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to suspend the regular order of business to take up the hearing.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was no discussion
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to suspend the regular order of business to take up the hearing.

4. Request from Kathryn Miller for Commission Approval of her Request to Rescind her Membership in SERS TIER II for the Purpose of Enrolling in TIER I. (Appearance is Scheduled at 9:30 A.M.)

i. At 9:27 a.m., Attorney Brian Doyle presented to the Commission on behalf of his client Katherine Miller. Ms. Miller was hired in October 1982 as a nurse at UCONN. At that time she filled out paperwork to be placed into Tier I Plan B. In 1984, the State offered employees an opportunity to be placed in Tier I if they were not in that Tier already. Ms. Miller knew she had chosen to be in Tier I so she did nothing. It was not until 1987 that she that she learned she was actually in Tier II. In 2013, she found the original document at her parents' house showing that she in fact had chosen Tier I. When she pulled her file from personnel she saw that the original form that she had filled out had been tampered with and the Tier II box was checked.
ii. There was some discussion. The Commission decided to have two attorneys review Ms. Miller's file to see if there is any correspondence at the time alerting Ms. Miller that personnel had placed her in Tier II and report back to the Commission.
iii. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Carey to table Ms. Miller's matter until after reviewing the entirety of the record and all the relevant documents.
iv. The Commission voted unanimously to table Ms. Miller's matter until after reviewing the entirety of the record and all the relevant documents.

D. New Matters

1. Request Commission Approval of January 21, 2016 Minutes.
 
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the January 21, 2016 minutes.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was discussion.
iii. Mr. Poulin pointed out that Mr. Fortier was named twice as being in attendance.
iv. Mr. Carey would like to amend the minutes to change the wording of a motion he made regarding holding the suspension of benefits for non-responding members until 90 days have transpired. He asked that rather than the minutes reflecting that he instructed the Division it be changed to the Commission would instruct the Division.
v. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the amended January 21, 2016 Minutes.

2. Request Commission Approval of the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem Expenses.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem Expenses.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman's Per Diem Expenses.

3. Request Commission Approval of the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee's Per Diem and Travel Expenses.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee's Per Diem and Travel Expense.
ii. Mr. Poulin abstained.
iii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iv. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee's Per Diem and Travel Expenses.

4. Request Commission Approval of the Parking Expense Reimbursement of Trustee Charles Casella.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Parking Expense Reimbursement of Trustee Charles Casella.
ii. Mr. Casella abstained.
iii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iv. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Parking Expense Reimbursement of Trustee Charles Casella.

5. Request Commission Review of the January 2016 Billing From Rose Kallor.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the billing from Rose Kallor.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission January 2016 billing from Rose Kallor.

6. Request Commission Review of the January 2016 Billing from Robinson & Cole.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the billing from Robinson & Cole.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission January 2016 billing from Robinson & Cole.

7. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

8. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

9. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

10. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

11. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Pre- Retirement Death Benefit Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Pre-Retirement Death Benefit Retirements for the Month of January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve Connecticut State Employees System Pre-Retirement Death Benefit Retirements for the Month of January 2016.

12. Request Commission Approval of the Municipal Retirement System Retirements.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Municipal Retirement System Retirements.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Municipal Retirement System Retirements.

13. Request Commission Approval of the Judges, Family Support Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System Retirements for the month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Judges, Family Support Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System Retirements for January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Judges, Family Support Magistrates and Compensation Commissioners Retirement System Retirements January 2016.

14. Request Commission Approval of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for the month of January 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for January 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for January 2016.

15. Request Commission Approval of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period December 11, 2015 Through January 7, 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period December 11, 2015 Through January 7, 2016.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period December 11, 2015 Through January 7, 2016.

16. Cruz- Aponte- Maturo- Legal Update.

i. Attorney Rose presented to the Commission an update on the Cruz- Aponte and Maturo cases.
ii. Cruz- Aponte did not appeal the CGS 7-4 issue.
iii. Maturo appealed the CGS 7-4 issue.

17. Review of Due process/CMERS

i. Attorney Rose presented to the Commission that letters have been mailed advising individuals of their status. Individuals will have ninety days.

Executive Session

1. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. Brenda Halpin, Colin Newman, Attorney Braswell and Attorney Rose were invited by the Commission to stay for executive session. The Commission went into executive session at 10:30 a.m.
2. The Commission came out of executive session at 10:46 a.m. and made the following motions:

i. Whitman Matter- Approval of decision of denial of reconsideration of claim, as amended by the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee. Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Greatorex. All voted in favor.
ii. Sullivan/MEB Petition. Remand matter to MEB for consideration of claimed physical disability. Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Greatorex. All voted in favor.
iii. Hanson Matter. Approve declaratory ruling as drafted by and approved by the Legal and Personnel Subcommittee. Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Greatorex. All voted in favor.

Adjournment
With no further business before the Commission, Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to adjourn at 10:47 a.m. The Commission voted unanimously to adjourn.

Respectfully Submitted by:


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Peter Adomeit, Chairman


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Prepared by Brenda K. Halpin
Director Retirement Service Division

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