Retirement Division June 15, 2017 Minutes of Meeting State Employees Retirement Commission - Amended

DRAFT
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION

A regular meeting of the State Employees Retirement Commission (the "Commission") was held on June 15, 2017, 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 9:11 a.m.
 
B. Chairman's Report:
There was no chairman?s report.
 
C. Division Director's Report

The Division is currently processing 280 retirements for the month of June the payroll cycle closes tomorrow June 16th. There are 237 regular retirements, 27 Hybrid retirements, 11 Voluntary Pending cases and 5 new disability retirements. The Disability Unit was able finalize 12 disability cases for June. The metrics for the finalizations for regular retirements is shown on the second page.

For the ARP to Hybrid transfers there are a total of 1,946 with 459 retirees and 1,473 transfers, 5 prospective and 9 waivers. We continue to work through the backlog of transfers with 542 remaining to be completed.

Pending Disability Applications as of May 31, 2017

Pending Applications:    432
Applications preliminarily reviewed (238)
Applications waiting for documentation (194)
Applications scheduled:    34
Total Pending:    466

FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

Number of Applications Received    29
Number of Applications on Agenda    14
Number of Applications Approved    11

The next available meeting for scheduling is July 2017.

24 month review cases:

As a follow up from the last meeting, the legal fees for the MERS activities will be taken from the Administrative Fees from the prior fiscal years.

As this will be my last Retirement Commission meeting as the Director of the Retirement Services Division I have appreciated the opportunity to work with all of you on this journey implementing a new pension system in Core-CT. Thank you for all of your efforts to assist myself and the work of the Division.


Deputy Comptroller Carlson gave an overview of the pension module. The implementation of the pension module has been a five year process. There has been extraordinary leadership in the Division.

Chairman Adomeit thanked Ms. Halpin for her service.

Chairman Adomeit noted that this will be Mr. Hart?s last meeting since he will commence his position as Town Manager for West Hartford in July. Mr. Hart thanked the Commission for his opportunity to serve as municipal liaison.

New Matters

1. Request Commission Approval of the May 18, 2017 minutes.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Fortier to approve May 18, 2017 minutes.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion.
iii. There was discussion and the May 18, 2017 minutes were amended to reflect the changes made in the meeting.
iv. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the May 18, 2017 minutes as amended.
 
2. Request Commission Approval of the State Employees Retirement Commission Chairman?s Per Diem Expenses.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Quiros 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 in favor 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 Ms. Mandour 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 in favor, with Mr. Poulin abstaining, to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission Union Trustee?s Per Diem and Travel Expenses.
 
4. Request Commission Acceptance of the May 2017 Billing from Robinson and Cole for CMERS.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to approve the billing from Robinson and Cole for CMERS.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission May 2017 billing from Robinson and Cole for CMERS.
 
5. Request Commission Acceptance of the May 2017 Billing from Robinson and Cole for federal tax matters.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to approve the billing from Robinson and Cole for federal tax matters.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission May 2017 billing from Robinson and Cole for federal tax matters.
 
6. Request Commission Acceptance of the May 2017 Invoices from Ford Harrison.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to approve the billing from Ford Harrison.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission May 2017 billing from Ford Harrison.
 
7. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
 
8. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
 
9. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
 
10. Request Commission Approval of the Municipal Retirement System Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Municipal Retirement System Retirements for the Month of May 2017.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Municipal Retirement System Retirements for the month of May 2017.
 
11. Request Commission Approval of the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirements Approved by the Medical Examining Board
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirements Approved by the Medical Examining Board.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirements Approved by the Medical Examining Board.
 
12. Request Commission Acceptance of the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for the Acceptance of Continued Entitlement.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to accept the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for the acceptance Continued Entitlement.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to accept of the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for the acceptance Continued Entitlement.
 
13. Request Commission Acceptance of the Recommendations By The Medical Examining Board for Denied/Tabled Disability Continued Entitlement.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to accept the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for Denied/Tabled Disability Continued Entitlement.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was discussion.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to accept of the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for Denied/Tabled Disability Continued Entitlement.
 
14. Request Commission Approval of the Retirement Services Division Request To Discontinue The Disability Applications Due To The One Year Deadline Associated With The Right To Ask For A Reconsideration Of The Medical Examining Board Denial.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour approve of the Retirement Services Division Request to Discontinue the Disability Applications Due to the One Year Deadline Associated with the Right to ask for a Reconsideration of the Medical Examining Board Denial.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was discussion.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve of the Retirement Services Division Request to Discontinue the Disability Applications Due to the One Year Deadline Associated with the Right to ask for a Reconsideration of the Medical Examining Board Denial.
 
15. Request Commission Approval of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for June 2017.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for June 2017.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for June 2017.
 
16. Request Commission Approval of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period April 14, 2017 Through May 11, 2017.
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Poulin to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period April 14, 2017 Through May 11, 2017.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period April 14, 2017 Through May 11, 2017.
 
17. Nomination of Chairman of the Retirement Commission - Discussion And Possible Action
i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to extend Chairman Adomeit?s tenure until further correspondence from the governor.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to extend Chairman Adomeit?s tenure until further correspondence from the governor.

Executive Session

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Mandour to go into executive session at 9:40 a.m. Ms. Halpin, Mr. Newman, Attorney Braswell, Attorney Barth, Attorney Rose and Attorney Cieslak were invited by the Commission to stay for executive session.

1. CMERS - recoupment of overpayments - written legal opinion - discussion and possible recommendation.
At 10:05 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Coffey to exit executive session. At 10:07 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. McLellan to go back into executive session to discuss number 2.
2. SAG award - written legal opinion - discussion.-attached
At 10:07 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. McLellan to exit executive session. At 10:07 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Coffey to discuss number 3.
3. Update on plan compilation - written legal opinion ? discussion.-attached
At 10:15 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Fortier to exit executive session. At 10:15 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to discuss number 4.
4. Diaz - written legal opinion/pending claim - discussion and possible recommendation.-attached
At 10:30 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. McLellan to exit executive session. At 10:30 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Coffey to discuss number 5.
5. Maturo - pending litigation - discussion-attached
At 10:30 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to exit executive session. At 10:31 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to discuss number 6.
6. Bouchard - pending litigation - discussion-attached
At 10:31 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to exit executive session. At 10:32 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to discuss number 7.
7. Phillips - pending claim - discussion-attached
At 10:31 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to exit executive session. At 10:31 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to discuss number 8.
8. Carter - pending litigation - discussion- attached
At 10:31 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to exit executive session. At 10:32 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. McLellan to discuss number 9.
9. Walenski - pending litigation - discussion-attached
At 10:32 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Coffey to exit executive session. At 10:40 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Coffey to discuss number 10.
10. Thompson - pending litigation - discussion.

At 10:42 a.m., the Commission exited executive session and made the following motions.

Public Session

At 10:43 a.m, Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Mr. Coffey that the Division send a communication to all MERS towns that if they hire a MERS retiree the MERS retiree cannot continue to collect a MERS pension unless they comply with CGS 7-438 (b). Passed unanimously.
At 10:44 a.m., Mr. Luciano motioned, seconded by Ms. Mandour to change Ms. Diaz?s retirement date back to June 1, 2011.
Passed unanimously.

Adjournment

With no further business before the Commission, Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Ms. Mandour to adjourn at 10:45 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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