MINUTES
HULL CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
September 26, 2017
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The regular meeting of the Hull Contributory Retirement Board, duly posted to be held in the selectman’s meeting room (was moved to the Upstairs conference room), Town Hall, Hull, MA on the above date was called to order at 5:35 p.m. Present were, Members, Gregory Galvin, Mike Buckley, Brian Thompson, John Reilly and Retirement Administrator Lauren Durham, John King was present via remote participation. Susan Ovans of the Hull Times was present in the audience.
In accordance with the open meeting law, the Chair was notified and it was announced that Lauren Durham was making and audio recording of the meeting.
Minutes:
Greg Galvin made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 29, 2017 Regular Board meeting. Seconded by Brian Thompson.
Unanimously Voted.
Payments:
Brian Thompson made a motion to approve and sign the Bill Warrant and the Payroll warrant for September 2017, seconded by John Reilly.
Unanimously Voted.
New Members:
John Reilly made a motion, seconded by Brian Thompson to accept the following employees as members of the Retirement System:
Danielle Hamilton, School Department, Group 1, start date 8/28/2017
Michelle Magner, School Department, Group 1, Start date 8/28/2017
Joseph O’Neill, School Department, Group 1, Start date 8/28/2017
Rachael Rusko, School Department, Group 1, Start date 8/28/2017
Unanimously Voted.
Refund requests:
William Hatfield, former employee of the Hull Fire Department requested a refund of accumulated deductions. Upon completion of the Department Head section of the application, Chief Russo attached a civil service notice regarding the termination of Mr. Hatfield. After discussion with Michael Sacco, it was determined that Mr. Hatfield was entitled to refund of accumulated deductions as the retirement system was never notified of a conviction of a crime related to his position. Lauren Durham notified the board that Mr. Hatfield was shy of 10 years of creditable service, but requested he sign an acknowledgement form stating the consequences have been reviewed with him if he refunds his service and returns to a municipal position in the future. John King asks if he purchased his military service while a member of the system.
There was no record of Mr. Hatfield purchasing this time and no notice of potential benefits was documents in his file.
Greg Galvin made a motion to notify Mr. Hatfield of these potential benefits since there was no record of that being done upon entry in to the retirement system and allow Mr.
Hull Contributory Retirement Board Meeting
Minutes
September 26, 2017
Page 2 of 4
Hatfield to purchase this time, if eligible, instead of taking a refund. If Mr. Hatfield waives his right to purchase his military time, the Board approves a refund of accumulated deductions as follows: $58,611.34 total accumulated deductions, $11,722.27 will be withheld for federal taxes and $46,889.07 will be paid to Mr. Hatfield.
John Reilly seconded the motion.
Unanimously Voted.
Retirement:
The Board was notified of the death of former Retirement Board Member and retiree of the Hull Police department, Maurice Murphy on September 12, 2017. Mr. Murphy was retired under Superannuation, Option A. His final payment (pro-rated) will be issued on September 28, 2017.
Greg Galvin made a motion, seconded by John Reilly to approve the application for
Superannuation retirement under Option A from Vicki Xypteras, of the Hull School Department. Ms. Xypteras has 11 years and 10 months of service and will be retired as of July 31, 2017. Final Calculation as follows:
Retirement Date 7/31/2017 |
Annuity |
$360.81 |
Pension |
$580.19 |
Total Monthly Allowance |
$941.00 |
Annual Annuity |
$4,329.72 |
Annual Pension |
$6,962.28 |
Total Annual Allowance |
$11,292.00 |
Option |
A |
Service |
11.8333 |
Age Factor |
1.5 |
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Unanimously Voted.
Updates:
Old Business:
Historically, Town Clerk has been present for the counting of the Retirement Board election ballots. The Board has asked Lauren to invite Lori West to assist in counting the ballots that day.
Glenn Commeau stopped into the retirement office this morning to thank the Board for their help with his buyback calculation and said he expects to pay the entire balance sometime next week.
Hull Contributory Retirement Board Meeting
Minutes
September 26, 2017
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New Business:
The 2017 Fall MACRS Conference will be held October 1-4, 2017 in Springfield, MA. If any Board member would like to attend registration is open through the first day of the conference.
The Board also received an invitation to the PRIM Board Investors Conference on November 9, 2017 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Lauren Durham plans to attend. Lauren will also check with PERAC if any education credits are available for this conference.
The Board reviewed the August PRIM Board Update.
Holiday Pay dates for retirees- The Board has agreed to pay the retirees earlier in November and December, as they historically do, in order to help prepare for the Holidays. Paydates will be November 21, 2017 and December 20, 2017.
Lauren Durham and Greg Galvin attended the 2017 Emerging Issues forum on September 14, 2017. The afternoon panel included a discussion on the recently filed legislation to modify pension forfeiture. The draft of the legislation is available if any Board member is interested in the proposed changes.
Mike Buckley authorized $125,000.00 to be liquidated from PRIT in order to cover the September 2017 Payroll in addition to the town appropriation of $255,000.
The Board reviewed the decision from the Plymouth district court in the matter of Gregory Shea. The court upheld the retirement board’s decision to rescind Gregory Shea’s superannuation retirement based on the Board’s determination that his criminal convictions violated the laws applicable to his office or position pursuant to M.G.L. c.32§15(4). Mr. Shea has 60 days to appeal this decision.
John King requests Michael Sacco provide the Board with an opinion on whether certain duties, potential outside of a written job description, would be covered by Accidental Disability retirement. While there are no specific cases to discuss at this time in Hull, Mr. King is looking for a general opinion on the matter. Greg Galvin offers that if an employee is directed to perform a duty, outside of written job description, but still within the realistic prevue of one’s job than it should be covered. He also offers that each instance would have to be examined by the Board at the time to make the determination.
Mike Buckley would prefer to not spend Board funds requesting the opinion of Michael Sacco, when there is not a specific case we are discussing. No motion was made.
Informational Mail:
The Board reviewed the following mail:
PERAC memo #28/2018 Selection of Fifth Member and Board Employees
Hull Contributory Retirement Board Meeting
Minutes
September 26, 2017
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- PERAC memo #29/2017- Vendor Disclosures
The Board has set their next meeting for Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs conference room.
Susan Ovans asked if she could be provided with the following information:
When did Gregory Shea’s pension benefit terminate?
How much money in attorney’s fees has the board paid for this case?
Could she be provided with a copy of the cover letter from Attorney Sacco?
What was Gregory Shea’s total monthly pension amount before being terminated?
Lauren will provide Susan with the requested information.
The Board’s next scheduled meeting is for Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. In the Upstairs Conference room. Meeting adjourned:.__________
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Brian Thompson
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Gregory Galvin
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Michael Buckley
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John King
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John Reilly
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