Police-Fire-01-08-2020_1

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Police and Fire Pension Board convened on January 8, 2020, with Mayor Gordon presiding over the session. The board addressed six agenda items during the meeting, focusing primarily on pension-related administrative matters and financial decisions. The board took nine votes throughout the session, approving five items and tabling one for future consideration. No public comments were heard during this meeting, indicating it was primarily focused on routine board business and administrative functions.

The meeting accomplished several key objectives, including approval of ghost time purchases, widow's benefits, the city's funding rate for fiscal year 2021, establishment of a computer directory folder for the pension office, and January disbursements. The only item not resolved was the Wallingford Law file transfer, which was tabled for future discussion.

Votes and Decisions

The board conducted nine voice votes during the meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

Financial Matters • [02:30] The board approved the Treasurer's Report and authorized the associated transfer • [60:00] January disbursements received approval • [20:00] The city's funding rate for FY 2021 was set at 38.63%

Personnel Benefits • [03:30] Ghost time purchases were approved for Shawn Lawson and Caleb Wade • [04:00] A widow's benefit for Melody Featherston received approval

Retirement Approvals • [65:00] Police retirements were approved • [70:00] Fire retirements were approved

Administrative Actions • [15:00] The board voted to table the Wallingford decision until February's meeting • [45:00] Creation of a shared folder for Susan, Tanya, and Bill O'Mara was approved

All votes were conducted by voice vote with no recorded opposition or abstentions. The specific board members who made and seconded each motion were not identified in the meeting records.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included one significant financial item related to pension plan valuation.

• Pension Plan Valuation: The board reviewed a valuation of the pension plan totaling $801,634,278.83. This valuation represents the current assessed value of the pension fund assets and obligations.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, vendor information, and resolution numbers were not available in the provided meeting materials for this financial item.*

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant point of contention that generated considerable debate among participants.

Computer Directory Folder for Pension Office

A heated discussion emerged regarding the establishment of a shared computer directory folder for the pension office. The disagreement centered on two key issues: whether the shared folder should be created at all, and if so, who should be granted access to it.

The debate was described as lengthy, indicating that multiple participants had strong opinions on the matter. However, the available meeting records do not specify which individuals or departments were involved in the discussion, nor do they detail the specific arguments made by each side.

The nature of the disagreement suggests concerns about information security, workflow efficiency, or administrative protocols may have been at stake. Pension office operations typically involve sensitive personal and financial information, which could explain why access permissions became a contentious issue.

The outcome of this discussion is not documented in the available meeting materials, leaving unclear whether a resolution was reached or if the matter was tabled for future consideration.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and participant names are not available in the provided meeting documentation.*

Ghost time purchases

3:00

The board discussed and approved ghost time purchases for two individuals during this agenda item.

Key Details: • Ghost time purchases were requested for Shawn Lawson and Caleb Wade • Susan served as the primary speaker presenting this item to the board

Outcome: The ghost time purchases for both Shawn Lawson and Caleb Wade were approved by the board.

*Note: The meeting transcript and source materials provided limited detail about the specific nature of these ghost time purchases, the amounts involved, or any discussion that may have occurred during consideration of this item.*

Widow's benefit

4:00

The board considered approval of a widow's benefit for Melody Featherston during agenda item 2.

Susan served as the key speaker presenting this matter to the board. The discussion focused on the approval of widow's benefits for Melody Featherston, though the specific details of the benefit amount, eligibility criteria, or circumstances surrounding the request were not detailed in the available materials.

The board ultimately approved the widow's benefit for Melody Featherston. No concerns or objections were noted during the discussion of this agenda item.

Wallingford Law file transfer

10:00

The meeting addressed the transfer of files from Wallingford Law to the firm of Stull, Kenan and Ogden. Keith Horn led the discussion on this agenda item.

The item was ultimately tabled without resolution during this meeting session.

*Note: Limited transcript information was available for this agenda item. Additional details about the specific nature of the file transfer, reasons for the transfer, or concerns raised during the discussion were not provided in the source materials.*

City's funding rate for FY 2021

20:00

The city council discussed and approved setting the city's funding rate for fiscal year 2021 at 38.63%. This agenda item was presented as a discussion item requiring council action.

The funding rate represents a significant financial decision for the city's budget planning and resource allocation for the upcoming fiscal year. The specific rate of 38.63% was proposed and considered by the council during their deliberations.

While the extracted data indicates there was discussion on this item, the specific details of the presentation, including which staff members or officials provided the analysis supporting this funding rate, are not clearly identified in the available information. The discussion likely included consideration of the city's financial position, revenue projections, and expenditure requirements for FY 2021.

The council ultimately approved the proposed funding rate of 38.63% for fiscal year 2021. This approval provides the city with the necessary budgetary framework to proceed with financial planning and operations for the upcoming fiscal year.

The funding rate decision represents a key component of the city's overall budget process and will impact various municipal services and programs throughout FY 2021.

Computer directory folder for pension office

30:00

The board discussed establishing a computer directory folder to facilitate file sharing for the pension office. The agenda item focused on creating a shared digital workspace that would allow both Susan and Tanya to access pension-related files.

Key Discussion Points: • The proposal centered on setting up a shared folder system for pension office operations • Susan and Keith Horn were the primary speakers addressing this technology initiative • The discussion involved determining the technical requirements and access permissions for the shared directory

Participants: • Susan - participated in the discussion regarding folder access needs • Keith Horn - contributed to the technical planning and implementation details

The board members reviewed the practical aspects of creating this shared computer directory, considering how it would streamline pension office workflows and improve file accessibility for authorized personnel. The discussion addressed the operational benefits of having a centralized digital location where both Susan and Tanya could access necessary pension documents and files.

Outcome: The proposal was approved, authorizing the creation of the computer directory folder for pension office use. This decision will enable improved file sharing capabilities and enhanced coordination between Susan and Tanya in their pension-related responsibilities.

The approval of this agenda item represents a step toward modernizing the pension office's digital infrastructure and improving operational efficiency through better file management systems.

Disbursements for January

60:00

The board reviewed and approved the disbursements for January during agenda item 6.

The item was presented for discussion and approval as part of the regular financial oversight process. Based on the available information, the disbursements were approved without significant debate or concerns raised during the meeting.

Outcome: Approved

*Note: Detailed information about specific speakers, amounts, or discussion points was not available in the provided meeting materials.*