DRAFT
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION

A regular meeting of the State Employees Retirement Commission (the "Commission") was held on March 16, 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:

• Peter Adomeit, Chairman
• Michael Carey, Trustee
• Charles Casella, Trustee
• Robert D. Coffey, Trustee
• Richard M. Cosgrove, Trustee
• Lisa Grasso Egan, Trustee
• Steven Greatorex, Trustee
• Sal Luciano, Trustee
• Laila Mandour, Trustee
• Ronald McLellan, Trustee
• Claude Poulin, Trustee
• Martha Carlson, Deputy Comptroller, Ex Officio Member
• Laurie Martin, acting CIO, Office of the State Treasurer, Ex Officio Member

The following members of the Commission were absent:

• Sandra Fae Brown Brewton, Trustee
• Paul Fortier, Trustee
• Angel Quiros, Trustee
• Matthew Hart, Municipal Liaison

Also present were:

• Brenda Halpin, Director, Retirement Services Division
• Michael Rose, General Counsel to the Commission Ford Harrison
• Cindy Cieslak, General Counsel to the Commission Ford Harrison
• Bruce Barth, Robinson & Cole (via phone)
• Karen Nolen, Office of Policy and Management
• Ralph Efird, Post Reporting
•  Ken Friedman, Attorney for Nancy Pine
• Natalie Braswell, General Counsel to the Comptroller
• Colin Newman, Office of the State Comptroller
• Amanda Alfonso, Retirement Services Division

A. Call to Order
Chairman Adomeit called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.

B. Chairman's Report:
There was no chairman?s report

C. Division Director's Report

The March 2017 retirement payroll will be closing tomorrow the final number of retirements will be reported next month. There 7 disability cases finalized for March.

 

For the ARP to Hybrid transfers there are a total of 1,923 with 440 retirees and 1,470 transfers, 4 prospective and 9 waivers. We continue to work through the backlog of transfers with 555 remaining to
be completed.

Pending Disability Applications as of February 28, 2017

FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

An initial meeting was not held in the month of February so no new disabilities were added to the payroll for March. The next available meeting for scheduling is April 2017.

24 month review cases:

• Currently there are a total of 424 members to be reviewed.
• Out of the 424 - 130 are currently collecting Social Security Disability leaving 294 that need to be processed for the 24 month review however 161 of the applications are awaiting medical information.

On March 1, 2017 we held a meeting with all of the MERS units to provide them with an update and the changes that we are requesting to the payroll data. The municipalities and various units were very receptive to the changes.

The City of Hartford would like to have additional units enter MERS.

Deputy Comptroller Carlson gave an overview of the pension module?s progress. In March the Division was not able to complete 1000 finalizations. There are 4000 finalizations left to complete. Some of the 4000, need new code written while others are saying there is a zero benefit. The audit unit is no longer doing parallel processing; rather they are strictly using the benefit calculator. In April, we will have a soft launch of MERS. We had a meeting with 125 municipalities about getting them on board and they were very excited about it. At the end of the month, there will be e-benefits for UCONN.

Ms. Halpin also advised the Commission that the CohnReznik accountant that was working on the GASB 68 data is no longer working for that firm. There was some discussion if the Commission would like to end the contract with CohnReznik and have the other firm take over this work. Ms. Braswell told the Commission that they were able to end the contract with CohnReznik at any time; however we would need to receive approval from the Office of Policy Management for a sole source contract.

i. At 9:54 a.m. Mr. Luciano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Carey to authorize Ms. Halpin to obtain the necessary release from CohnReznik and submit to the Office of Policy and Management the sole source contract pending any conflicts of interests.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to authorize Ms. Halpin to obtain the necessary release from CohnReznik and submit to the Office of Policy and Management the sole source contract pending any conflicts of interests.

New Matters

1. Request Commission Approval of the February 16, 2017 minutes.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve February 16, 2017 minutes.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to approve the February 16, 2017 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 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 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 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 February 2017 Billing from Robinson and Cole for CMERS.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex 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 February 2017 billing from Robinson and Cole for CMERS.

 

5. Request Commission Acceptance of the February 2017 Billing from Robinson and Cole for federal tax matters.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex 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 February 2017 billing from Robinson and Cole for federal tax matters.

 

6. Request Commission Acceptance of the February 2017 Invoices from Ford Harrison.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex 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 February 2017 billing from Ford Harrison.

 

7. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of February 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 February 2017.

 

8. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of February 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 February 2017.

 

9. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of February 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 Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

 

10. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of February 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 Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

 

11. Request Commission Approval of the Municipal Retirement System Retirements for the Month of February 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Municipal Retirement System Retirements for the Month of February 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 February 2017.

 

12. Request Commission Acceptance of the Recommendations By The Medical Examining Board For Continued Entitlement.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to accept the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for 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 Continued Entitlement

 

13. Request Commission Acceptance of the Recommendations By The Medical Examining Board For Continued Entitlement.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to accept the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board for 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 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 Mr. Greatorex 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 being no discussion he called for a vote.
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 March 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for March 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 of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for March 2017.

 

16. Request Commission Approval of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period January 6, 2017 Through February 2, 2017.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period January 6, 2017 Through February 2, 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 January 6, 2017 Through February 2, 2017.

 

17. Request Commission Acceptance of the Actuarial Subcommittee Recommendations On The State Employees Retirement System (SERS) GASB 67 & 68 Reports; The Judges, Family Support Magistrates, Compensation Commissioners Retirement System (JFSMCC) GASB 67 & 68 Reports; Municipal Employee Retirement System (MERS) GASB 67 Report And Request Commission To Review And Discuss The Next Steps Related To The Contract For Accounting Services.

i. The Commission was not able to vote on the agenda item because the Division did not receive the reports and was not able to disseminate the reports to the Commission. The Commission was able to vote on the Reviewing And Discussing the Next Steps Related to the Contract for Accounting Services.
ii. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to Review and Discuss the Next Steps Related to the Contract for Accounting Services.
iii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There being no discussion he called for a vote.
iv. The Commission voted unanimously in favor to Review and Discuss the Next Steps Related to the Contract for Accounting Services.

18. Nancy Pine- Request for Reconsideration as to her Petition for Reversal of the MEB - Discussion and Possible Action. (Appearance Is Scheduled At 10:00 a.m.)
Ms. Pine is requesting that her case be reconsidered by the Medical Examining Board for failure to not consider all the evidence that was provided.

Executive Session

Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session at 11:10 a.m. Ms. Halpin, Mr. Newman, Attorney Braswell, Attorney Barth (via phone), Attorney Rose and Attorney Cieslak were invited by the Commission to stay for executive session.

1. Reemployment after retirement from State Service - written legal opinion - discussion.
2. Carter - pending litigation - update and discussion.
3. Pine - written legal opinion - discussion and possible action.
4. Review of MEB decisions from January packet - written legal opinion - discussion and possible action.
5. MEB meetings & procedure - written legal opinion - update and possible action.
6. Angela Diaz Request dated January 30, 2017 - written legal opinion - discussion and possible action.
7. Maturo - pending litigation - update.
8. Bouchard - pending litigation - update.
9. Krawiec - pending litigation - update.
10. Walenski - pending litigation - update.
11. Thompson - pending litigation - update.
12. Phillips - pending claim - update.
13. Ford Harrison Contract Option - discussion of prior legal opinions and possible action.

The meeting was suspended for lack of quorum at 12:31 p.m. A continuation of the meeting will be scheduled.

Respectfully Submitted by:

__________________________________
Peter Adomeit, Chairman

___________________________________
Prepared by Brenda K. Halpin
Director Retirement Service Division

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