HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-21-17 - Signed Special Minutes MINUTES
FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION BOARD SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF RENTON
December 21,2017
Denis Law, Mayor
Don Persson, Finance Committee Chair
Jason Seth, City Clerk
Ray Barilleaux, Fire Department Representative
Bruce Phillips, Fire Department Representative
Chuck Christenson,Alternate Fire Department Representative
Jamie Thomas, Fiscal Services Director
Sean Hollingsworth, Finance Representative
The special meeting of the Firefighters' Pension Board was called to order by Mayor Denis Law
at 8:32 a.m. in the Mayor's office,7th floor of Renton City Hall. In attendance were Board
members Mayor Denis Law, Finance Committee Chair Don Persson, City Clerk Jason Seth, Fire
Department Representatives Ray Barilleaux and Bruce Phillips, and Finance Department
Representatives Jamie Thomas and Sean Hollingsworth.
PENSION INCREASES FOR WIDOWS OF LEOFF DISABILITY RETIREES
Ms.Thomas reported that there are five different categories of pensioners associated with the
Renton Firefighters' Pension Board, as follows:
July CPI (minimum 2%) Number of Pensioners
Group 1) Retirees—Disability retired prior to 1961 (Pre-LEOFF) 0
Group 2)Widows—Disability retired (Pre-LEOFF and LEOFF) 10
Group 3) Retirees and Widows—Service retirement prior to 1969 1
Tied to Current Salary/Rank when Firefighter Retired Number of Pensioners
Group 4) Retirees—Disability retired after 1961 7
Group 5) Retirees and Widows retired after 1969 8
Continuing, Ms.Thomas indicated that members of Group 2 and Group 3 have had their pension
payments calculated incorrectly, and all of the beneficiaries of these groups are widows. Group
2 widows should have been moved from Group 4 (the category they were in upon the
firefighter's passing)to Group 2 in order to receive their increases tied to COLA. She reported
that this means that four widows were underpaid a total of$34,945.14, and seven widows were
overpaid a total of$48,204. Ms.Thomas indicated that widows within Group 3 did not receive
the minimum 2%CPI increase in July of 2003 and 2004, resulting in a total underpayment of
$6,068.03 for the two affected widows.
Responding to several inquiries from board members, Ms. Thomas reviewed the procedures and
regulations related to the pay schedules for the five different pensioner categories.She also
indicated that staff is not recommending the board seek repayment from the few widows who
were overpaid.She did indicate, however, that future payments will be adjusted to correct the
overpayment error. Concluding, Ms. Thomas recommended the board pay a total of$41,013.17
for the following widows who were underpaid:
12/21/2017 Special Meeting Minutes
Firefighters' Pension Board
Page 2 of 2
Recipient Total Underpaid
Goodwin, Kathryn Lorayne (widow) $1,079.70
Jones, Evelyn M. (widow) $9,731.28
Walls, Camille (widow) $4,284.00
Weiss, Cheryl (widow) $19,850.16
Haworth, Constance (estate) $3,200.81
Pringle,Joan (widow) $2 867 22
Total $41,013.17
MOVED BY BARILLEAUX,SECONDED BY PERSSON,THE FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION BOARD
APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF$41,013.17 FOR WIDOWS WHOSE PENSIONS WERE UNDERPAID,
AS LISTED ABOVE. CARRIED.
MOVED BY BARILLEAUX, SECONDED BY PHILLIPS,THE FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION BOARD
FORGIVE THE$48,204 IN OVERPAYMENTS TO PENSIONERS. CARRIED.
Mr. Barilleaux indicated that he would assist in tracking down the executor of Ms. Haworth's
estate. Ms. Thomas reported that she or Mr. Hollingsworth would contact the pensioners to
determine the appropriate time to release their payments.
ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY PHILLIPS,THE FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION BORARD
ADJOURN. CARRIED. TIME:9:34 A.M.
/);—/
eth, City Clerk
ry, Firefighters' Pension Board