HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Fire Pension 071917 Special MeetingPALM BEACH GARDENS FIREFIGHTERS’ PENSION FUND
SPECIAL MINUTES OF MEETING HELD
JULY 19, 2017
A special meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:06PM in the Council
Chambers, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Those persons present were:
TRUSTEES OTHERS
Martin Cohn, Vice Chair Denise McNeill, Administrator
Jon Currier, Secretary Pedro Herrera, Attorney
Tom Murphy Chris Henry, Active Firfighter
Ed Morejon (via phone)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
N/A
ATTORNEY REPORT: SUGERMAN & SUSSKIND (PEDRO HERRERA)
Mr. Herrera stated that the Board previously decided to issue Mrs. Bussey the monthly
pension benefit on behalf of her husband who is considered missing at this point. Mr.
Bussey also has a DROP and Share account. Mr. Herrera stated that we can only make
decisions on behalf of benefits that this Board administers and currently his DROP
money is over at ICMA. His Share account money remains invested in the pension plan
and the question is not who is entitled to the money, but rather when the money could be
paid out as we do not have a death certificate at this point in time. The State and Federal
law requires a death certificate before a death benefit can be paid out to a beneficiary.
Mr. Herrera reminded the Board that if this case is taken to court and something different
is ruled, then they will have to abide by that as well. Ms. McNeill confirmed that the
member did confirm his intent in writing that he wanted to move his DROP money back
over from ICMA to the pension plan when he retired, but there is no such form on file yet
to allow that so he did not complete that form prior to him going missing. The Trustees
had a very lengthy discussion on what their options are at this point and ultimately
decided there is nothing they can do at the moment in regards to the Share and DROP
money without a death certificate. Ms. McNeill confirmed that Mrs. Bussey has not
applied for this money yet either. They will continue to monitor this situation.
NEW BUSINESS
N/A
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:52PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Currier, Secretary