STATE OF CONNECTICUT
STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION

A regular meeting of the State Employees Retirement Commission (the "Commission") was held on May 19, 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:

• Peter Adomeit, Chairman
• Michael Carey, Trustee
• Charles Casella, Trustee
• Robert D. Coffey, Trustee
• Richard M. Cosgrove, Trustee
• Lisa Grasso Egan, Trustee
• Stephen Greatorex, Trustee
• Sal Luciano, Trustee
• Laila Mandour, Trustee
• Ronald McLellan, Trustee
• Claude Poulin, Trustee
• Martha Carlson, Deputy Comptroller, Ex Officio Member
• Deborah Spalding, CIO, Office of the State Treasurer, Ex Officio Member
• Thomas Landry, Municipal Liaison

The following members of the Commission were absent:

• Sandra Fae Brown Brewton, Trustee
• Paul Fortier, Trustee
• Angel Quiros, Trustee

Also present were:

• Brenda Halpin, Director, Retirement Services Division
• Michael Rose, General Counsel to the Commission
• Natalie Braswell, General Counsel to the Comptroller
• Amanda Alfonso, Executive Assistant, Retirement Services Division

A. Call to Order

Chairman Adomeit called the meeting to order at 9:06 am

 

B. Chairman's Report:

 

Chairman Adomeit informed the Board that the municipal liaison Thomas Landry will be retiring in September and the Commission will need to discuss the process for finding his replacement.

 

He also informed the Commission that the Bridgeport Legislation passed. The legislature agreed to lower Bridgeport's payments for two years but then asked that the actuaries examine the additional payments.

 

The legislature capped all non-union employees state retirement system pension at $125,000.

 

C. Division Director's Report

For the May retirement payroll we had 212 new retirees (180 normal, 17 disabilities, 10 voluntary pending and 5 Hybrid). There were 4 disability and 5 normal retirements finalized for the month.

On the ARP to Hybrid transfers there are 377 retirees, 1,489 transfers, 9 waivers and 4 prospective for a total of 1,874. We were able to process 13 transfers this month and the outstanding number to be audited and processed is 643.

Pending Disability Applications as of April 30, 2016

The next available meeting for scheduling is July 2016.

Update on the 2015 MERS Re-employment survey - the Division has fifteen members that have not contacted our office. The Division investigator is researching the status of members with various agencies to determine if they are still living.

The third and final request for the 2016 MERS Re-employment Survey was mailed last month. A copy of the analysis is attached for your review.

The annual SERS Disability Survey was mailed out this week.

Mr. Carey inquired about the 2016 reemployment survey.

Deputy Comptroller Martha Carlson gave an update on the pension module. She informed the Commission that the benefit calculator will be up and running at the middle of June.

D. New Matters

1. Request Commission Approval of April 21, 2016 Minutes.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the April 21, 2016 minutes.
ii. Chairman asked if there was any discussion. There was no discussion.
iii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the April 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 Review of the April 2016 Billing 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 to approve the State Employees Retirement Commission April 2016 billing from Ford Harrison.

 

5. Request Commission Review of the April 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 April 2016 billing from Robinson & Cole.

 

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

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service 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 Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Service Retirements for the Month of April 2016.

 

7. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of April 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Connecticut State Employees System Disability Retirements for the Month of April 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 April 2016

 

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

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Voluntary Pending Retirements for the Month of April 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 April 2016.

 

9. Request Commission Approval of the Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of April 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve Connecticut State Employees System Retroactive Retirements for the Month of April 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 April 2016.

 

10. 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.

 

11. Request Commission Approval of the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirement Approved by the Medical Examining Board.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex 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 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 of the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirement Application Denials.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board of the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirement Application Denials.
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 Recommendations by the Medical Examining Board of the Municipal Retirement System Disability Retirement Application Denials.

 

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

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System Retirements for May 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 May 2016.

 

14. Request Commission Approval of the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period March 4, 2016 Through April 14, 2016.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement Fund Personnel Expenses for the Pay Period March 4, 2016 Through April 14, 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 March 4, 2016 Through April 14, 2016.

 

15. Request Commission Approval for the Selection of the Moderate Portfolios as the Default Investment Option for the Alternative Retirement Plan.

i. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to approve the Selection of the Moderate Portfolios as the Default Investment Option for the Alternative Retirement Plan.
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 Selection of the Moderate Portfolios as the Default Investment Option for the Alternative Retirement Plan.

Executive Session

1. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. Brenda Halpin, Attorney Braswell and Attorney Rose were invited by the Commission to stay for executive session. The Commission went into executive session at 9:24 a.m. for the purpose of discussing the procedure for appointing a municipal liaison.

 

2. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Power of Attorney Inquiry.

 

3. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Brown case. Pending Litigation. Update. - no action taken

 

4. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Brown case. Pending Litigation. Update.- no action taken

 

5. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Whitman case. Pending Litigation. Update. - no action taken

 

6. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Carver case. Pending Litigation. Update- no action taken

 

7. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Walenski case. Pending Litigation. Update- no action taken

 

8. Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to go into executive session. The Commission went into executive session to discuss the Maturo case. Pending litigation. Update- no action taken

 

9. The Commission came out of executive session at 10:00 a.m. and made the following motions:

i. Pine matter- Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Carey to write a letter to Ms. Pine's attorney stating that the Board has no authorization to reverse the Medical Examining Board Decision.
ii. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the writing of a letter to Ms. Pine's attorney stating that the Board has no authorization to reverse the Medical Examining Board Decision.

Adjournment

With no further business before the Commission, Mr. Luciano moved, seconded by Mr. Greatorex to adjourn at 10:03 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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