HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-25 Retirement Board Minutes - Executive SessionOrR
° �� Town of Reading RECEIVED EK
Meeting Minutes ROARING M K
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
202�JUN-5 PN12�22
Contributory Retirement Board
Date: 2023-09-25 Time: 11:00 AM
Building: Reading Retirement Administration Location: Conference Room
Address: 2 Haven Street Unit 307 Session: Executive Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
David Gentile, Chairman
Sharon Angstrom
Carol Roberts
RobertBeck
Members - Not Present:
John Halsey
Others Present:
Colleen Loughlin, Administrator
Elaine Kelly, Asst Administrator
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Elaine Kelly
Topics of Discussion:
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MINUTES OF THE READING RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING
EXECUTIVE SESSION
September 25, 2023
Present at this executive session were the following individuals
David A. Gentile, Chairman
Carol B. Roberts
Sharon M. Angstrom
Robert L. Beck
Colleen Loughlin, Admin
Elaine Kelly, Asst Admin
John Halsey was unable to attend. The hearing was recorded and is considered to be a part of the
minutes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
• Discussion regarding Sean Wilson v. Reading Retirement Board — Military Buyback
Reading Retirement System has a supplemental regulation stating that a veteran must purchase their
military time within a 10 -year window from their membership date and if you don't, then you forfeit
your right to purchase the vetemn's time. All veterans should be given 180 days from enrollment to
sign the form stating that they may be interested in purchasing this time. If the veteran does not sign
the form, they will never be eligible to purchase the military time. It was noted that not all Boards
give their veterans this form. Under PERAC's guidance, Reading Retirement advises that it's in
their best interest to sign the form at enrollment, allowing them to purchase the time at some point,
within that 10 -year window, if they choose to. Sean had been denied the right to purchase his
veteran's time because the I0 -year window had expired. Sean appealed that decision. At that time,
he was on active duty so this got postponed. This member is now inactive; however, he was active
when he appealed the Retirement Board's ruling. This case is getting reading to come full circle
again.
There's a case law coming down the path that challenges this 180 -day window. DALA claims that
PERAC interpreted the law incorrectly, in that Reading gave the form prematurely and that it should
be given to the veteran when they become vested, which is 10 years of membership. Any. Sacco
advises that the Board may want to let this go, if this is where the path may lead. This would change
the validity of the supplemental regulation with the Reading Retirement Board.
+ SHARON ANGSTROM moved to approve dropping the appeal process
SECONDED BY: ROBERT BECK
VOTED: (4-0-0) UNANIMOUS
The Administrator will email Ally. Sacco. He will notify the court.
• Discussion about pay strategy and negotiated compensation for performance reviews.
Sharon Angstrom told the Board that the Town was discussing a 1.25% COLA for Town employees
and that it is not always only 2% between steps on the Town's Compensation Plan.
+ SHARON ANGSTROM moved to approve a 2% COLA and one step (2%) for the Administrator
and the Assistant Administrator, which would be a 4% increase in compensation.
SECONDED BY: ROBERT BECK
VOTED: (4-0-0) UNANIMOUS
The Board voted again, with a roll call vote, regarding the Scan Wilson is. Reading Retirement
Board and the purchase of his military service.
• SHARON ANGSTROM moved to approve dropping the appeal process
SECONDED BY: ROBERT BECK
ROLL CALL VOTE: CAROL ROBERTS AYE
SHARON ANGSTROM AYE
ROBERTBECK AYE
DAVID GENTILE AYE
VOTED: (4 -")UNANIMOUS
The Board voted again, with a roll call vote, on the pay strategy and negotiated compensation
for performance reviews.
• SHARON ANGSTROM moved to approve a 2% COLA and one step (2%) for the Administrator
and the Assistant Administrator, which would be a 4% increase in compensation.
SECONDED BY: ROBERT BECK
ROLL CALL VOTE: DAVID A. GENTILE AYE
CAROL B. ROBERTS AYE
ROBERT L. BECK AYE
SHARON M. ANGSTROM AYE
VOTED: (4-0-0) UNANIMOUS
+ SHARON ANGSTROM made a motion to return to Open Session.
SECONDED BY:
ROBERT BECK
ROLL CALL VOTE:
DAVID A. GENTILE
AYE
CAROL B. ROBERTS
AYE
ROBERT L. BECK
AYE
SHARON M. ANGSTROM
AYE
VOTED:
(4-0-0) UNANIMOUS
Robert L. Beck, 2"d elected
John R. Halsey, 2nd appointed (ABSENT)
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