Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-15 FPB MINUTESFIREFIGHTERS PENSION BOARD ?vffiETING April 15 , 1999 A regular meeting of the Englewood Firefighters Pension Board was called to order by Chairperson Ken Holland at 3 :08 p.m . in Conference Room A of the Englewood City Hall, 3400 South Elati Street. Members Present : Members Absent : Others Present: Ken Holland, Chairperson, Employee Representative Tom Burns, Mayor (arrived 3:10 p.m.) Frank Gryglewicz, Director of Financial Services Michael Ballinger, Employee Representative Gary Kasson, Council Appointee Jay Seay, Employee Representative None Jon Seay Rick DeWitt, Attorney Dan Brotzman, City Attorney (arrived 4 : 10 p .m.) Chris Olson, Director of Safety Services (arrived 4 :00, left 4:35) Carol Wescoat , Recording Secretary A quorum was present. * * * * * Seating of elected Board Member, Michael Ballinger The Board congratulated Michael Ballinger on his election to the Board and Mr. L. Gary Kasson on his appointment to the Board. Election of Board Chairperson/President MR. KASSON NOMINATED JOHN KENNETH HOLLAND AS CHAIRPERSON/PRESIDENT. MR. SEAY SECONDED . Ayes : Nays : Absent: Abstention : The motion carried . Ballinger, Gryglewicz, Seay, Kasson None Burns Holland MR. HOLLAND NOMINATED MR. JAY SEAY AS SECRETARY. MR. BALLINGER SECONDED. Ayes: Nays: Holland, Ballinger, Gryglewicz, Kasson None Absent: Bums Abstention: Seay The motion carried. Mayor Bums arrived 3: 10 p .m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MR. GRYGLEWICZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PENSION BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 14, 1999. MR. SEAY SECONDED . Ayes : Nays : Absent : Abstention : The motion carried . OLD BUSINESS Bums, Holland , Gryglewicz, Seay None None Ballinger, Kasson * * * * * Discussion of Jon Seay Chairperson Holland requested that Mr. DeWitt review Mr. Jon Seay's application for Volunteer Firefighter Pension benefits for the new members of the Board. Mr. DeWitt reviewed Jon Seay's claim of volunteer firefighter service . Mr. DeWitt queried Mr. Jon Seay regarding his knowledge of the Exhibits presented as evidence of his service as a volunteer firefighter. Discussion included reference to copies of Mr. Seay's leave of absence from April 15, 1975 to October 15, 1975 and a letter addressed to Mr. William Hamilton indicating, effective August 1, 1976, Mr. Seay was dropped from the rolls . Mr. Seay stated he had taken a leave of absence but had not received a copy of the letter to Mr. Hamilton. Discussion ensued regarding Mr. Seay's purported service on the executive board and his professional involvement with communications equipment used by the Volunteer Firefighters. Firefighters Pension Board Meeting 2 Mayor Bums inquired about a fonnal roster of volunteer firefighters. Mr. Seay responded that he did not know of a roster, but roll call was taken at meetings . Discussion ensued relating to the number of service years (21 years 6 months) listed on the presented infonnation. The Board clarified that the dates August 28 , 1961 to February 17 , 1982 provide approximately 20 years and six months of service time . Additional discussion followed pertaining to the number of actual years of service. Mr. DeWitt stated that on August 14 , 1971 , Mr. Seay had ten years of service as indicated on Mr. Seay's Certificate of Service . Mr. Olson arrived 4 :00 p.m. Mr. DeWitt continued to ask Mr. Seay questions . He made reference to a receipt that he was not able to produce that indicated Mr. Seay was storing volunteer fire equipment . Mr. Kasson asked the reason for delaying the application 12 years . Mr. Seay stated he was under the impression that he had to be 55 to apply . He stated he had spent the rest of the time trying to find the records . Mr. Brotzman arrived 4 : 10 p.m . Discussion followed related to scheduling a hearing to finalize the matter and possible evidence available in the library records . Mr. DeWitt commented that Mr. Seay 's name shows up repeatedly on the rolls and there is no record of a vote taken to remove him from the rolls . Mayor Bums commented that Mr. Seay ' s name on a fonn would be circumstantial evidence that he was around , and questioned if there was another period that he was not active . Mr. DeWitt stated that Mr. Seay had testified , no . Further discussion ensued regarding the incomplete records of the Volunteers. Mr. Gryglewicz asked about any other volunteer firefighters that were dropped from the rolls. Mr. Seay stated the only Volunteer removed was listed in the minutes. Discussion followed regarding the various locations of Volunteer records . Mr. Olson left 4 :35 p .m. MR. KASSON MOVED TO CONTINUE THE HEARING UNTIL MAY 13 , 1999 , AT 2 :00 P.M. MR . GRYGLEWICZ SECONDED . Discussion ensued related to contacting Mr. William Hamilton regarding his knowledge of Mr. Jon Seay 's service as a Volunteer firefighter . The Board agreed to request Mr. Hamilton attend the hearing . Firefighters Pension Board Meeting 3 Ayes: Nays: Absent : The motion carried. Holland, Ballinger, Bums, Gryglewicz, Kasson, Seay None None Mr. DeWitt and Mr. Jon Seay left at 4 :40 p.m. The Board discussed what evidence may be presented at the hearing. Mr. Kasson and Mr. Ballinger were given copies of Mr. Brotzman's September 11 , 1998 letter with all attachments for discussion . The Board agreed to contact Mr. Donald Seymour, Mr. Paul Newport, Mr. Tom Fritz, and other Volunteer retirees that may have knowledge of Jon Seay' s service as a volunteer. The Board agreed to request copies of the Volunteer Firefighters By-Laws. The Board discussed the hearing process . Discussion of Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) Ms. Wescoat reviewed the proposed amendments to the Plan document. Mayor Bums stated he needed to leave . Ms. Wescoat requested that the agenda items be taken out of order . Review of special actuarial study from FPP A Ms . Wescoat presented the actuarial study done by Buck Consultants pertaining to providing a retiree increase of either $50, $75 , or $100 per month. MR. GRYGLEWICZ MOVED TO ACCEPT THE ACTUARIAL STUDY BY BUCK CONSULTANTS AND APPROVE A BENEFIT INCREASE OF $100 PER MONTH FOR RETIREES AND ONE-THIRD OF THE AMOUNT FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES FOR ALL RETIREES RETIRED AS OF JANUARY 1, 1998 , EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1, 1999 . MR. BALLINGER SECONDED . Ayes : Nays : Absent: The motion carried . Holland, Ballinger, Bums, Gryglewicz, Kasson, Seay None None Mayor Bums left at 6:25 p .m., and the Board took a short break and resumed at 6:33 p .m. Firefighters Pension Board Meeting 4 Discussion continued relating to the Plan document amendments . The Board agreed with the proposed Plan amendments . The final draft will be presented to the Board as soon as it is completed. NEW BUSINESS Review of FPP A Volunteer Firefighters Plan December 1998 Statement The Board reviewed the FPP A Statements for the Volunteer Firefighters . Reimbursement of Funds for Police Officer Pension Plan Mr. Gryglewicz presented a letter from the City of Englewood's Chief Accountant requesting the transfer of funds due to an error. MR. GRYGLEWICZ MOVED TO TRANSFER $6 ,627 .22 FROM THE PLAN FUNDS TO THE POLICE OFFICER PENSION FUND . MR. SEAY SECONDED. Ayes : Nays : Absent : The motion carried . MEMBERS CHOICE Holland , Ballinger, Gryglewicz, Kasson, Seay None Bums * * * * * Ms. Wescoat apologized for not including minutes from the January 21 , 1999 Telephone Poll. MR. GRYGLEWICZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 21 , 1999 TELEPHONE POLL. MR. SEAY SECONDED . Ayes : Nays : Absent : The motion carried. Holland, Ballinger, Gryglewicz, Kasson, Seay None Bums Firefighters Pension Board Meeting 5 Mr. Seay requested the Board consider amending the Plan document to increase the additional death benefit from $100 to $500. Discussion ensued relating to limits imposed by statutes. MR. GRYGLEWICZ MOVED TO APPROVE INCREASING THE ADDITIONAL DEATH BENEFIT TO $500. MR. SEAY SECONDED . Ayes : Nays: Absent: The motion carried . Holland, Ballinger, Gryglewicz, Kasson, Seay None Bums Mr. Seay commented on recognition of former Board Members. The Board will acknowledge Mr. Bill Young's service by letter. MR. SEAY MOVED TO ADJOURN. MR. BALLINGER SECONDED . Ayes: Nays : Absent : The motion carried . Holland, Ballinger, Gryglewicz, Kasson , Seay None Bums Meeting adjourned at 7 :10 p.m. Carol W escoat Recording Secretary Firefighters Pension Board Meeting 6