Venango County Retirement Board approves retirements, withdrawals and new fund entrants

Commissioner Samuel Breene called the Venango County Retirement Board to order at 4:36 p.m. on June 9, 2026, in Room 100 of the Courthouse Annex. Pastor Jeremy Coyer gave the invocation and the group recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Timothy Heffernan moved to approve the minutes from the April 14, 2026 meeting; Jeannie Ritchey, Treasurer, seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously in favor.

The board then reviewed "Attachment A," a package of Retirement Board items. Chief Clerk Dorothy "Dottie" Tawney moved to accept Attachment A; Commissioner Heffernan seconded and the motion carried with all voting aye.

Attachment A lists county employees newly entering the Retirement Fund System with their effective dates and contribution percentages. Examples included Terry Looney-Stevens (effective 2/02/2026, 9%), Jeffrey D. Bailey (effective 5/03/2026, 19%), Michael Anderson (effective 5/04/2026, 9%), Brandon Deeter (5/04/2026, 9%), Ashley Abbott (5/11/2026, 9%), Deion Deas (5/11/2026, 9%), Brian J. Martin (5/11/2026, 10%), Erica Ondrusek (5/11/2026, 9%), Cougar Vannucci (5/26/2026, 9%) and John Oakes (5/26/2026, 9%).

As part of the same package, the Treasurer was authorized to issue withdrawal checks to former employees in accordance with the Plan and County pension law. Listed disbursements (with a disbursement date of 06/30/2026) included: Drew Mears, $4,424.10; Alyssa Kapp, $2,097.45; Ronald Buterbaugh, $913.79; Rebecca Seigworth, $417.37; Erica Nesbitt, $519.75; Andrew Henderson, $373.39; and Emily Crate, $35.99.

The board approved two superannuation retirements. The first was Richard O. Goldsmith, effective 5/02/2026; he elected a "No Option" and is entitled to a monthly lifetime annuity of $1,856.70 and a pro rata benefit of $1,796.81 for 30 days in May. The second approved retirement was Natalie G. Desko, effective 2/07/2026; she elected "Option Four B," allowing a one-time withdrawal of accumulated deductions of $16,454.31 credited to her member account, in addition to a monthly lifetime annuity of $247.47 and a pro rata benefit of $194.44 for 22 days in February.

In other business, the board recorded that Albert Abramovic elected to vest his pension funds with the county effective 1/31/2026. The minutes state that Rebecca Seigworth, Andrew Henderson and Emily Crate each failed to file pension-withdrawal documents within the established time frame; their accumulated deductions are being withdrawn in accordance with Retirement Board policy.

Jeannie Ritchey moved to adjourn the meeting; Chief Clerk Dorothy "Dottie" Tawney seconded and the board adjourned at 4:38 p.m.

The meeting record lists no public comments and no additional business.