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Malden Publick

An independent guide to city government in Malden, Massachusetts

Retirement Board – Mar 11, 2026

Minutes (PDF)Agenda
Where
Not listed on the city's Agenda Center
Time
Not listed

What was decided

The board accepted February meeting minutes, financial warrants, new member enrollments, retirement applications, and withdrawals/transfers, all by unanimous vote of those present. It also approved the 2026 budget with a postage budget change to $8000.00, approved the 2026 budget with allowance for additional costs, and approved staff and board attendance at 2026 conferences and an educational seminar.

Decisions recorded

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Transcribed by AI from the city's PDF. Check the original before relying on it.

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

DATE: March 11, 2026

A meeting of the Malden Retirement Board was held this day March 11, 2026, at 8:46 AM in conference room #105 at Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant St. Malden, MA with the following present: Warren Atkinson Jr., Domenic Fermano (Absent), John Hall, Scott Lucey, Charles Ranaghan. Staff: Director, Robert Soohoo, and Board Secretary Maria LoGrasso.

Call to Order

The Chairman, Mr. Atkinson Jr. called the meeting to order at 8:46 AM. The Board Secretary Maria LoGrasso took an attendance roll call vote.

Roll Call:

  • Mr. Atkinson Jr. - Yes
  • Mr. Fermano - Absent
  • Mr. Hall - Yes
  • Mr. Lucey - Yes
  • Mr. Ranaghan - Yes
General Meeting

Accept February Board Meeting Minutes and Executive Session Minutes, March Expense Warrant, February Retiree Payroll and Staff Payroll Warrant, Cash Book & Cash Reconciliations.

VOTE: To accept February Board Meeting Minutes and Executive Session Minutes, March Expense Warrant, February Retiree Payroll and Staff Payroll Warrant, Cash Book & Cash Reconciliations. Motion by Mr. Hall and seconded by Mr. Ranaghan, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

New Members
  • Joanna Mayo - MPS, Assistant Cook, Hire Date 03/09/2026
  • Angela Vozzella - MPS, ESP, Hire Date 03/02/2026
  • Coleen Murphy - MPS, ESP, Hire Date 03/02/2026
  • Karen Pino - Police, Clerk/Assistant to the Prosecutor, Hire Date 03/02/2026

VOTE: To accept new members. Motion by Mr. Ranaghan and seconded by Mr. Hall, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Deceased

Joseph G. Bates - Fire, Date of Death 03/01/2026, Option C (Phyllis Bates)

Retirement Applications, Adjustments, and Survivor Benefits
  • Rebecca Smith, Library. Date of Retirement: 03/28/2026 Option A
  • Richard Moore, Public Facilities, Date of Retirement: 03/06/2026 Option C
  • Caroline Jacques, MPS, Paraprofessional, Date of Retirement: 02/28/2026 Option A

VOTE: To accept Retirement Applications, Adjustments, and Survivor Benefits. Motion by Mr. Lucey and seconded by Mr. Ranaghan, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Withdrawals/Transfers
  • Romario Berneche - MPS, Paraprofessional, 5 years, Transfer to Salem
  • Amanda Y Rodriguez Tabares - MPS, 1 year, 4 months, Transfer to MTRS
  • Zinah Hammadi - MPS, Paraprofessional, 2 years, 3 months, Transfer to Medford
  • Sherline Gustave - Police, Cadet, 1 year, 10 months, Refund

VOTE: To accept Retirement Withdrawals and Transfers. Motion by Mr. Ranaghan and seconded by Mr. Lucey, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Buybacks, Makeups and Military Purchases
Correspondence - Recent PERAC Memos

  • 11 - Disability Presumptions and Pre-Employment Physicals

VOTE: To accept the waiver form for a pre-employment physical for new members. Motion by Mr. Lucey and seconded by Mr. Hall, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

  • 12 - Violent Act Injury Disability Updated Forms

Director Report

COLA Notice Memo - The Retirement Board will resend the COLA Notice with the 30-day threshold to the mayor and council and revote at the April 15, 2026 Board meeting.

Review of 2025 Budget

VOTE: To approve the 2026 Budget proposal with the change to the postage budget to $8000.00. Motion by Mr. Lucey and seconded by Mr. Ranaghan, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Discussion of 2026 Budget

VOTE: To approve the 2026 Budget as presented with the allowance to adjust for additional costs. Motion by Mr. Ranaghan and seconded by Mr. Hall, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Review of Robert Soohoo Timesheet

The Board acknowledged the Director will pay back the vacation and sick time payout he received in January and will get all of the vacation and sick time back.

Review of 2026 Conferences and Educational Seminars

VOTE: To approve attendance for the 2026 MACRS and NCPERS Conferences and additional 2-day Educational Seminar for Board members and staff. Motion by Mr. Ranaghan and seconded by Mr. Hall, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Review of Frederick Wilson's ADR

The Board was notified of Mr. Wilson request of second medical panel by his attorney.

Discussion of Topics Not Reasonably Anticipated 48 Hours in Advance of Meeting
Documents Distributed to the Board:
  • March Agenda
  • February 2026 Draft Board Minutes
  • February 2026 Executive Session Board Minutes
  • March 2026 Disbursements Warrant
  • PERAC Memos #11 & #12
  • Actual Budget for 2025 and Budget for 2026
  • Robert's timesheet & Treasury email
  • Recent COLA notice

VOTE: To adjourn the meeting 10:02 AM Eastern time, Motion by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Lucey, it was voted:

*All present were in favor

Future Meeting dates: April 15, 2025, 8:30 am; May 20, 2026, 8:30 am [A handwritten blue mark above "20" is [unreadable]]

Warren Atkinson Jr., Chairman [signature]

Domenic Fermano, Appointed Member [signature]

Scott Lucey, Board Appointed [signature]

John Hall, Elected Member [signature]

Charles Ranaghan, Ex-Officio [signature]

Minutes posted on the city website (PDF, 1.3 MB). Saved copy, saved .

Agenda

A copy of the agenda wasn't saved here. It is on the city website.

Terms used here

COLA
Cost-of-living adjustment: a raise in pay or a pension to keep up with rising prices.
executive session
A part of a public meeting closed to the public. State law allows it only for specific reasons, such as lawsuits, negotiations, or personnel matters.
PERAC
Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, the state agency that oversees Massachusetts public retirement systems.

All the terms in the glossary

Source

This meeting's agenda in the City of Malden's Agenda Center. First recorded by Malden Publick on .