HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.15.25 Employees Retirement System MinutesOFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES CITY OF LANSING
EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM
MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting July 15, 2025
10th Floor Conference Room Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
The meeting was called to order at 9:31 a.m.
Present: Trustee Bahr, Dedic, Ebright, Kalis, O’Leary, Sanchez-Gazella, Schor, Thomas – 8.
Absent: Garza, Jeffries (Excused)
Others present: Karen E. Williams, Thomas Lindemann, Human Resources Department, City Attorney
Joseph Abood, City Attorney’s Office; Attorney Aaron Castle, VanOverbeke, Michaud and Timmony;
Nathan Burk, Patrick Miller (via phone), Asset Consulting Group.
It was moved by Trustee Dedic and supported by Trustee Kalis to approve the Official Minutes of the
Employees’ Retirement System Board meeting of June 17, 2025, with corrections.
Adopted by the following vote: 8 – 0.
There were no public comments for items on the agenda.
Secretary’s Report:
8 new members, 0 reinstatement(s), 0 refund(s), 0 transfers, 2 retired. Total active
membership: 420. Total deferred: 67; 0 Death(s); Refunds made since last regular meeting
amounted to $92,262.44. Retirement allowances for the month of June 2025 amounted to
$2,028,724.03. Total retirement checks printed for ERS System: 913. Total retirement
checks printed for both systems: 1742. Eligible domestic relations orders received: 0.
Domestic relations orders pending: 0. Eligible domestic relations orders certified: 0.
There were no requests for Regular Age and Service Retirement.
Karen Williams reported a request for duty disability application #2024-E0724. The request for duty
disability was referred to the disability subcommittee.
The Employees’ Retirement System Board recessed at 9:37 am to allow the disability subcommittee to
meet.
The Employees’ Retirement System Board resumed at 9:40 a.m.
It was moved by Trustee Kalis and supported by Trustee O’Leary to send Applicant #2025-E0715 to
be evaluated by the Board’s medical director for duty disability.
Adopted by the following vote: 8 – 0.
Karen Williams reported that the Retirement Office was waiting for documentation from Applicant
#2024-E0724 request for duty disability.
Employees’ Retirement System July 15, 2025
Meeting Minutes Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
Page 2
There were no requests for non-duty disability.
It was moved by Trustee Kalis and supported by Trustee Ebright to approve the following requests for
refunds of accumulated contributions:
Marjan Sakhi, (NonBargaining) Not-Vested $9253.30
James Harries (District Court Non-Represented), Not vested $9249.78
Adopted by the following vote: 8 – 0.
Karen Williams reported the upcoming MAPERS Fall Conference, September 13 -16 in Grand Rapids.
Karen Williams reported on the upcoming NCPERS Fall Conference, October 26-29 in Florida.
Karen Williams reported that each year, per City Council resolution, every member of a board or
commission, authorized by city ordinance or the city charter, shall obtain training on the ethics
ordinance, conflicts of interest and the Open Meetings. City Council has provided a 20-minute
informative video that members are required to review.
The following trustees have watched the Open Meetings Act/Ethics Ordinance video: Bahr, Dedic,
Ebright, Garza, Jeffries, Kalis, O’Leary, Sanchez-Gazella, Schor, Thomas, Staff: Lindemann, Williams
Karen Williams reported that Trustees Garza and Jeffries contacted the Retirement Office and
requested to be excused from the meeting.
It was moved by Trustee Dedic and supported by Trustee Kalis to excuse Trustee Garza, and Trustee
Jeffries from the July 2025 meeting.
Adopted by the following vote: 8 -0.
,
There were no public comments for items not on the agenda.
Ms. Williams provided the following May invoices for approval: from Segal Insurance, $9,557, Asset
Consulting Group, $21,768; Tegrit, $15,395.73.
It was moved by Trustee Bahr and supported by Trustee Ebright to pay the July invoices for the
Employees’ Retirement System Board.
Adopted by the following vote: 8 - 0.
Northern Trust sent information regarding their class action securities litigation. Northern Trust plans to
enhance those class action services to expand coverage globally. Northern Trust clients will be
automatically enrolled in the new service. There will be a fee increase associated with this
enhancement.
Employees’ Retirement System July 15, 2025
Meeting Minutes Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
Page 3
Karen Williams reported that with the departure of Dennis Parker whose term expired, the Employees’
Retirement System would need to nominate and elect new Board Officers.
It was moved by Trustee Dedic and supported by Trustee Ebright to nominate and elect Matthew Bahr
as chairperson of the Employees Retirement System Board.
Matthew Bahr accepted the nomination
Adopted by the following vote: 8 – 0.
It was moved by Trustee Ebright and supported by Trustee O’Leary to nominate and elect Darren Kalis
as vice chairperson of the Employees’ Retirement System Board.
Darren Kalis accepted the nomination.
Adopted by the following vote: 8 -0.
Karen Williams provided the following Employees Retirement System subcommittee membership:
Disability Committee: Kalis, O’Leary, Bahr
Investment Committee: Bahr, Dedic, Ebright, Thomas
Education Committee: Garza, Ebright, Sanchez-Gazella, Jeffries
Special Projects: Dedic, Ebright, Jeffries, Sanchez-Gazella, Ex-officio Legal Counsel.
Thomas Lindemann provided a report regarding the duty disability income verification. Mr. Lindemann
confirmed that all disability retirees had reported their income verification.
It was moved by Trustee Bahr and supported by Trustee Ebright to accept the election results and
declare Mr. Darren Kalis a Trustee member for the term ending June 30, 2029.
Adopted by the following vote: 7 -0.
Mr. Thomas Lindemann provided an update of the duty disability income verifications for the Employees
Retirement System. Mr. Lindemann indicated that there were 2 members who had not reported as of
the deadline, April 30, 2025. Mr. Lindemann will send out a second letter and if there has still not been
a response, the Retirement Office will provide a list of disability recipients who would be subject to
pension suspension at the July meeting.
Attorney Castle updated the Employees’ Retirement System that per the Board’s policies, each vendor
is reviewed on a periodic basis. Attorney Castle reviewed the request for proposal and discussed the
actuarial audit section. The actuarial audit would be an independent actuary to review the work product,
assumptions and the processes to ensure these items are reasonable under actuarial standards.
The audit was a part of the guidelines for PA 202 from the Michigan Department of Treasury that were
being finalized. The draft guidelines indicated that only OPEB/health care plans were subject to the
Peer actuarial audit process. Attorney Castle reviewed the tentative timeline for the request for
proposals. The proposals would be due in August, and the Board could review the proposals in
September with decisions made in November.
Trustee Dedic inquired if there was a different fee schedule for Employees’ Retirement System Board.
Attorney Castle indicated that there could be different fees for the ERS Board and the Police and Fire
Retirement System Board. Attorney Castle asked in the proposal if there were discounted fees for
providing services to both boards.
Attorney Castle provided an updated Authorized Signers Resolution for the Employees Retirement
System Board.
It was moved by Trustee Schor and supported by Trustee Ebright to adopt and amend the Authorized
Signers Resolution.
Adopted by the following vote: 8 -0.
Mr. Nathan Burk and Mr. Patrick Miller reviewed the Monthly Investment Report for the month ending
June 30, 2025.
It was moved by Trustee Ebright and supported by Trustee Bahr to adjourn the Employees’ Retirement
System July meeting.
Adopted by the following vote: unanimous.
The meeting ended at 10:21 a.m.
Minutes approved on 8/19/2025.
________________________
Crystal Thomas, Secretary
Employees’ Retirement System
_____________________________
Matthew Bahr, Chairperson
Employees’ Retirement System