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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Public Safety Personnel Retirement Boards - Meeting Date: 5/22/2013 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL RETIREMENT SYSTEM GLENDALE LOCAL FIRE BOARD May 22,2013—9:00 a.m. City Hall,4t1i Floor Conference Room 5850 W. Glendale Ave. Glendale,AZ MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Jerry Weiers, Board Member Larry Clark, Citizen Board Member and Acting Chair Assistant City Manager Horatio Skeete, Board Member Capt. Joe Hester, Board Member Capt. Mark Manor, Board Member STAFF PRESENT: Jim Brown, Executive Director Human Resources and Board Secretary Nick DiPiazza, Acting City Attorney Deputy Fire Chief Tom Cole La Trisse Kuzinski, Human Resources Support Staff Marcia Zientek, Human Resources Support Staff GUEST: Brianna Bean,National Operations Manager, Medical Consultants Network Call to Order A Joint Meeting of the PSPRS Local Fire and Police Boards Larry Clark, Acting Chair, called to order a joint meeting of the PSPRS Local Fire and Police Boards at 9:00 a.m. Discussion With Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) Vendor La Trisse Kuzinski, HR Generalist, provided information on the process she went through in selecting a vendor to be used in disability cases. Ms. Kuzinski stated that she solicited the surrounding cities that Glendale typically uses in benchmarking. She asked each city's Human Resources contact who they were using as their Independent Medical Evaluation vendor. The Medical Consultants Network (MCN) came up often and she then followed up by looking into their experience, years in the business, cost, and the cities to which they presently provide assistance. Brianna Bean, National Operations Manager, Medical Consultants Network (MCN) joined the meeting telephonically. Ms. Bean's company has been retained by the City of Glendale's Human Resources Department to assist in contracting an Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) doctor when an employee of the City has applied for disability. Ms. Bean provided background information on her company, their experience in evaluating Public Safety personnel in particular, and the type of doctors that are qualified to assess a number of conditions that may be more common to Police and Fire personnel, including PTSD which has become prevalent as a disability issue. Page 1 of 3 PSPRS Local Fire Board Meeting Minutes 5/22/13 The Board members were given the opportunity to ask questions of Ms. Bean and her company. Lt. Wolfe asked if they have physicians who, for example, not only have experience in the field of PTSD but also an understanding of the profession of the individual. Ms. Bean advised that they have a very large number of psychiatrists and physicians on their staff whose expertise spans all types of disabilities and with the ability to consider their specific job in relation to the disability incurred. Lt. Wolfe then asked if our Board receives any of the physician's credentials in order to assess the fit of the physician for evaluating the employee. Ms. Bean advised that the Board would have full control as to how a physician is selected. Either MCN could select the physician or could provide three (3) physicians names and credentials for the Board to evaluate and make their own selection. Assistant City Manager Skeete asked if MCN had a physical office located in the Phoenix area and if there is a designated person assigned to our City. Ms. Bean advised that MCN does not have an office in the Phoenix metro area. She advised that their operations are in Seattle, Washington, however she is the person in their office that is dedicated to the Phoenix area and that there are fully trained backup people to assist and also be available. Mr. Skeete asked how any dissatisfaction issues or problems are handled. Ms. Bean advised that she would be the main point of contact for any problems regarding the physician selected, the quality of the work, the report that is generated, or any other issues. She stated that they have a rolling credentialing process and a fully trained Quality Control Staff that reviews all reports. They use metrics to monitor turnaround time regarding how far out the doctor is scheduling patients, how quickly reports are completed and received, and the responsiveness of the doctor's office staff. Ms. Bean also asked that any problems or concerns be put in writing so that follow-up would be certain to address any and all issues. There were no other questions for Ms. Bean and the conference call was ended. Discussion on Disability Process and Distribution of PSPRS Board Procedures Handbook Jim Brown, Executive Director Human Resources and La Trisse Kuzinski, HR Generalist, provided updated information on PSPRS Board Procedures and the updated information that PSPRS is requiring for disability cases. Mr. Brown recalled the last disability case in which the Board noted that the doctor evaluating the person did not adequately answer specific and vital questions that were needed in order for the Board to make their decision. The Board had to return the documents to the doctor and request that she reread the questions and to answer them as they were exactly stated. Mr. Brown and Ms. Kuzinski advised that the updated forms should alleviate the type of problems encountered in the past regarding disability cases. Lt. Wolfe and Det. Keefer both recalled the last disability case which was a difficult one and one in which the doctor did not answer the questions as specifically stated. Lt. Wolfe referred to question number 5 on the Accidental Disability Questionnaire form the Board just received and indicated that it could be a little confusing. Question number 5 stated, "Is the employee still working a position within their job classification that the Local Board considered a reasonable range of duties position?" Acting City Attorney Nick DiPiazza acknowledged that he understands where the confusion could be and noted that both question number 5 and question number 6 (which said, "Has the employee refused a position within their job classification that the Local Board considered a reasonable range of duties?") should be clarified. Mr. DiPiazza added that it is not the function of the local boards to determine a job classification or to define the function, the duties, or the responsibilities of a Police Officer or Fire Fighter. Mr. DiPiazza agreed that the language is a bit confusing and that we probably need to `drill down' to know exactly what the meaning is or what PSPRS believes it to be. Mr. Brown added that Human Resources can certainly go back to PSPRS for additional clarification on those two questions and will have that done before the next disability case comes forward. Ms. Kuzinski noted that the IME doctor is always provided with the full job description of the employee as well as Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZ Post)requirements. Page 2 of 3 PSPRS Local Fire Board Meeting Minutes 5/22/13 Captain Hester asked about the cost associated with having an IME done and if the costs are always assumed by the employee's department. He asked if, with the new administration in place, there could be a budget specifically for IMEs. Mr. Brown advised that Police and Fire are not the only departments that have to bear the cost of having an IME done, that there are other city departments that also have to assume those types of costs. Mr. DiPiazza noted that Boards and Commissions do not have budgets so the money could not come out of any place other than the department. He stated that unless Police and Fire could anticipate how many IMEs might be done in the course of a fiscal year, and were able to place a budgeted amount in a contingency fund in Human Resources, there are no other options available at this time. There were no additional questions or concerns from the Board members. Adjournment of the Joint Meeting of the PSPRS Fire and Police Boards Larry Clark, Acting Chair, asked for a motion to adjourn the joint meeting of the PSPRS Fire and Police Boards. Capt. Mark Manor, Fire Board Member, moved to adjourn the joint meeting of the PSPRS Fire and Police Boards. Lt. John Wolfe, Police Board Member, seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 a.m. Call to Order Larry Clark, Acting Chair, called to order the Local Fire Board meeting at 9:36 a.m. Review and Approval of the March 6,2013 Local Fire Board Meeting Minutes The minutes of the March 6, 2013 Local Fire Board meeting were reviewed. Capt. Mark Manor moved to accept the minutes as presented. Capt. Joe Hester seconded the motion. The Board voted and passed the motion unanimously. New Business There was no new business. Adjournment Larry Clark, Acting Chair, asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mayor Jerry Weiers moved to adjourn the PSPRS Fire Board meeting. Assistant City Manager Horatio Skeete seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 9:38 a.m. Sus- 'tted by: Ar 1IrBrown oard Secretary Page 3 of 3