City managers abstain from pension board

Four city of Springfield managers have temporarily abstained from the Springfield Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System Board of Trustees because of possible conflicts of interest.

Deputy City Manager Evelyn Honea, City Attorney Dan Wichmer, Human Resources Director Sheila Maerz and Finance Director Mary Mannix Decker will abstain from participating in pension board meetings and voting on any matters, according to a city news release.

St. Louis attorney Dan Tobben raised the conflict-of-interest issue at the May 6 meeting of the Police-Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force, which is working to help the city find a solution to the pension fund's $200 million shortfall. Tobben represents the Springfield Police Officers Association and Firefighters Local 152; he said he believed Wichmer had a conflict serving on the board while also representing the city in legal matters that involve the board, according to the release.

Wichmer then said other city staff members could have conflicts serving on the board. City Manager Greg Burris opted to temporarily remove them until the citizen task force makes recommendations about board membership.

Other city employees, who represent Police and Fire employees, remain on the board. Burris has urged the board to get an independent legal opinion on whether those members have any conflict-of-interest issues.

In the interim, Burris has named Ken Homan to replace Honea as board president. Homan is a citizen representative on the board and is a senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for Springfield Trust Co., according to the city's Web site. The board's quorum also will be adjusted to five votes.

Mannix Decker will continue to attend board meetings to answer questions about financial reports and retirement calculations.