Carbondale Police Pension Board updated on pending state legislation

By LocalLabs News Service

Jun 20, 2016

At a recent meeting, the Carbondale Police Pension Board heard a presentation on pending pension legislation in the General Assembly.

The Carbondale Police Pension Board oversees all financial matters related to the Carbondale Police Department's pension plan.

Below are the minutes from this meeting, as provided by the board.

POLICE PENSION BOARD

April 19, 2016 at 1:30 pm.

Carbondale Civic Center Room 103

Meeting Minutes

1. Call to Order / Roll Call

The City of Carbondale Police Pension Board of Trustees held a meeting on Tuesday, April 19th, 2016, at the Carbondale Civic Center, Room 103, 200 South Illinois Avenue. Mark Goddard called the meeting to order at about 1:30 p.m.

Roll Call

Present: Paul Echols, Mark Goddard, Tony Williams, and Don Ursini.

Absent: Don Priddy

Acknowledgement of Guests

Also present were Finance Director Jeff Davis, Senior Accountant Becky Applegate, and Pension Board Attorney Dennis Orsey.

2. Reading / Approval of Minutes

a.) Minutes from March 15th, 2016

MOTION: P. Echols moved, T. Williams seconded, that the minutes from the meeting held on March 15th, 2016 be accepted as amended. All voted Aye. No nays. Motion declared carried.

b.) Minutes from February 16, 2016

MOTION: T. Williams moved, D. Ursini seconded, that the minutes from the meeting held on February 16, 2016 be accepted. All voted Aye. No nays. Motion declared carried.

3. Correspondence

None.

4. Bills

Itemized invoice received from Attorney Dennis Orsey in the amount of $1,586.25 for legal services.

MOTION: P. Echols moved, T. Williams seconded, to pay the bill for Dennis Orsey in the amount of $1,586.25. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes: P. Echols, M. Goddard, D. Ursini, and T. Williams. Nays: None. Motion declared carried.

Bill received from Scott Hendricks for legal services totaling $1618.15.

MOTION: P. Echols moved, T. Williams seconded, to pay the bill from Scott Hendricks in the amount of $1,618.15. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes: P. Echols, M. Goddard, D. Ursini, and T. Williams. Nays: None. Motion declared carried.

5. Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer’s report was given by Don Ursini through March, 2016. Questions and comments from the Board were addressed by D. Ursini.

MOTION: T. Williams moved, P. Echols seconded to accept the treasurer’s report. All voted aye. No nays. Motion declared carried.

6. Investment Report

No report. Patrick Donnelly will be present at the May 17th meeting.

7. Old Business

a) Disability hearing for Jeff Vaughn is set for April 25th, 2016. Board members were presented with a book of compiled exhibits for the case. Board members read, and received verbal instructions on, how to review the exhibits and not discuss them or share them with anyone prior to the disability hearing. P. Echols will recuse himself from the hearing. Atty. Orsey reviewed the process of the hearing itself and the follow ups that come after a decision has been reached.

b) Economic interest forms need to be submitted to the circuit clerk no later than May 1st. M. Goddard, D. Ursini and P. Echols have already submitted their forms.

c) No one opposed active duty board members T. Williams and M. Goddard for the present terms. M. Goddard hung notices of the pending election all over the police department with no one voicing any interest as of the due date. They will continue to serve through the next term without need of election. P. Echols was reappointed by the mayor for a 1 year term effective until 05/09/17, and Jeff Davis will be appointed effective 04/29/16 for a term extending to 05/08/18.

d) Atty. Orsey explained several items of pending pension related legislation, including SB 3317 and SB 2775 to board members, and provided a summary of what the expected outcomes are at this time, along with potential implications of the passage of the bills.

8. New Business

a) Discussed training opportunities for trustees in 2016 including the regional seminar scheduled for 11/09/16 at John A. Logan College.

b) Copies of disability files/paperwork/etc. were provided to Atty. Orsey for review.

c) A signature needed on a contract with Shawnee Health Service was tabled until the next meeting to allow for some changes to be addressed.

9. Application for Membership

None.

10. Application for Benefits

a) Adam Fitts submitted a request for a refund of his $2,126.64 contributions.

Motion: P. Echols moved, T. Williams seconded. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes: M. Goddard, T. Williams, P. Echols,

D. Ursini. Nays: none.

Motion declared carried.

11. Public Comments