New Canaan pension committee forfeits benefits for three employees, approves retirements and vendor fees

The Pension Committee of the Town of New Canaan on Feb. 10 voted unanimously to forfeit retirement benefits for three former Board of Education food-services employees and approved a slate of routine pension awards and vendor payments.

After returning from an executive session called to discuss a personnel matter, the presiding speaker moved “to forfeit the retirement benefit benefits for Bruce Gluck, Joanne Passarelli, and Marie Wilson under section 16.5 of the retirement plan on the grounds that the participants committed acts of fraud or dishonesty toward the employer.” The motion was seconded and approved by all members present.

Cheryl, the meeting presenter, then reviewed new and terminating pension awards. She said Thomas Patton, a police officer whose term date was listed as 12/31/25 and normal retirement date as 04/01/2025, has 25.75 years of service and a monthly vested benefit of $5,634.71. She reported Stanislaw Wright (Board of Education) has 10.16 years of service and a monthly benefit of $1,172.71. She said Sue Ingram Keller will take a return of contributions with interest totaling $8,285.61. She listed Martha Ochoa (Board of Education) with 25.25 years of service and a monthly vested benefit of $2,720.77. The committee moved to approve those pension awards; the motion was seconded and the approvals passed unanimously.

Cheryl also read a roster of staff who have joined the plan and reported deceased-member cases: Thomas Gilroy (date of death September 2025), whose beneficiary Judy Gilroy will receive a monthly payment of $2,030.98, and Daryl DeCenzo (Board of Education), listed as having no beneficiary.

On plan expenses, the committee approved two invoices from USI: $39,885 for benefit calculations and related services and $6,700 for three months of actuarial consulting, for a total of $46,585.

The presenter reported the plan’s market value and said it was up by about $3,000,000 from the previous meeting; during the remarks a figure of “195,000,000” was spoken. The audio/transcript of that exchange was partially unclear.

Votes at a glance • Forfeiture motion: Forfeit benefits for Bruce Gluck, Joanne Passarelli and Marie Wilson under section 16.5 of the retirement plan — approved unanimously. • Pension awards: Approve retirement/termination benefits for Thomas Patton ($5,634.71/month), Stanislaw Wright ($1,172.71/month), Sue Ingram Keller (return of contributions $8,285.61), Martha Ochoa ($2,720.77/month) — approved unanimously. • Plan expenses: Approve USI invoices, $39,885 and $6,700 — approved unanimously.

The meeting adjourned following routine closing remarks. No public comment was recorded.