Paid Leave Board Authorizes Staff to Negotiate, Execute Actuarial Contract

The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority board voted April 10 to authorize staff to negotiate and execute a contract with the authority's proposed vendor for actuarial services following an executive-session briefing on responses to the request for proposals.

The board’s deputy commissioner chair, Eleanor Michael, asked for the motion to allow staff to proceed with negotiations and execution of a contract after the confidential review. Eva Bermudez Zimmerman moved the authorization; Isha Canada seconded. Board members voted in favor and the motion carried with no recorded opposition or abstentions on the record.

The executive session had been held to allow staff to brief the board on RFP responses for actuarial services. The board invited authority staff members Joe Kale, Erin Choquette, Dave Marcon, Bloch Pho and John Simonetti into that executive session for the briefing, and later returned to the public meeting to take the vote. In open session the board authorized staff to complete contract negotiations and execute the agreement with the proposed vendor.

Board Chair Eleanor Michael said the executive session was necessary because "the public interest in the disclosure of such responses is outweighed by the public interest in the confidentiality of the responses," consistent with the instructions provided before the session.

The board did not discuss contract dollar amounts or the vendor’s name in open session. Authority staff indicated they will make a public announcement once the contract is executed.

The board also approved routine meeting items earlier in the session, including minutes from Feb. 13 and several committee reports, before moving to executive session and the contract authorization.

Looking ahead, staff will complete contract negotiations and return to the board or publish a public notice once the contract is executed.