Claims Panel Committee Meeting Minutes
May 5, 2025 | SURS Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
The meeting of the Claims Panel Committee of the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) convened on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.
The following Claims Panel Committee members were present: Ms. Carolyn Clifford, Hearing Officer; Ms. Suzanne Mayer, SURS Executive Director. Trustee Herbert Pitman was absent.
Others present: Ms. Bianca Green, General Counsel; Ms. Heather Kimmons, Senior Associate General Counsel; Mr. Albert Lee, Senior Associate General Counsel; Ms. Jennifer Bartell, Director of Benefits Processing; Ms. Lisa Fink, Communications Manager; Ms. Karen Nyi (via video conference) and Ms. Annette Ackerman, Executive Assistants; Ms. Ann Parkinson, Area Wide Reporting; Mr. Anthony Gaston, Claimant (via video conference); and Mr. Larry Matthew (via video conference).
Approval of Minutes
Ms. Clifford presented the open session minutes from the Claims Panel Committee Meeting of February 10, 2025. Ms. Mayer made the following motion:
That the open session minutes from the February 10, 2025, Claims Panel Committee Meeting be approved as presented.
Ms. Clifford seconded the motion which passed via the roll call vote referenced below:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – absent
Ms. Clifford presented the closed minutes from the Claims Panel Hearing of February 10, 2025, for approval. Ms. Mayer made the following motion:
That the closed session minutes from the February 10, 2025, Claims Panel Committee Meeting be approved as presented and remain closed.
Ms. Clifford seconded the motion, which passed via the following roll call vote:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – absent
Continuation of Claim – Yolanda Newman (Deceased)
Case Number 2023-17
The hearing on the administrative appeal stemming from the survivor benefits following Yolanda Newman’s death was continued to this date for further evidence/testimony. Ms. Carolyn Clifford served as the Assigned Hearing Officer. SURS staff was represented by Senior Associate General Counsel, Ms. Heather Kimmons.
Ms. Clifford admitted additional records, including pages 331 through 430, into evidence. Ms. Kimmons also provided a verbal summary of the issues to be addressed by the Claims Panel Committee in the continued hearing. Ms. Kimmons then called Ms. Jennifer Bartell to testify as a witness for SURS, regarding the additional information the Claims Panel Committee asked the parties to address. Claimants Gaston and Matthews each reaffirmed their positions relative to the appeal and cross examination followed. At the conclusion of the claim presentation, Hearing Officer Carolyn Clifford closed the evidentiary proofs.
Claims Panel Deliberations
Hearing Officer Clifford asked for a motion to move into closed session, pursuant to §2(c)(4) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, to consider the evidence and testimony presented in open session. Ms. Mayer made the motion to move into closed session, Ms. Clifford seconded the motion, which passed via the following roll call vote:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – absent
Return to Open Session
Upon completion of the closed session deliberations, the Claims Panel Committee returned to open session at approximately 9:35 a.m.
Ms. Clifford then made the following motion for the Yolanda Newman Claim:
Move to reverse the staff decision, with the Claims Panel finding that:
- First, Mr. Anthony Gaston has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that he is entitled to the survivor benefits of Yolanda Newman;
- Second, that Mr. Larry Matthews is not entitled to the survivor benefits of Yolanda Newman;
- Third, directing the SURS staff to forego any overpayment recovery from Mr. Matthews; and finally
- That a written decision of factual findings and conclusions be drafted by the Hearing Officer.
Ms. Mayer seconded the motion, which passed via the following roll call vote:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – absent
Presentation of Claim – Sandra Morris
Case Number 2023-28
The administrative appeal of Ms. Sandra Morris was called for a hearing before the Claims Panel Committee. Ms. Carolyn Clifford served as the Assigned Hearing Officer. SURS staff was represented by General Counsel Ms. Bianca Green. Ms. Clifford noted that Ms. Morris opted to waive her right to attend the meeting.
Ms. Clifford admitted written records into evidence including 257 pages of documents. Ms. Green provided a verbal summary of the issues to be addressed by the Claims Panel Committee, and she proceeded to explain the factual and legal basis for SURS’ response to the pending claim. Following that summary, Hearing Officer Clifford closed the evidentiary proofs.
Claims Panel Deliberations
Hearing Officer Clifford asked for a motion to move into closed session, pursuant to §2(c)(4) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, to consider the evidence and testimony presented in open session. Ms. Mayer made the motion to move into closed session. Ms. Clifford seconded the motion, which passed via the following roll call vote:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – Absent
Return to Open Session
Upon completion of the closed session deliberations, the Claims Panel returned to open session, at approximately 10:15 a.m. Ms. Clifford then made the following motion for the Sandra Morris Claim:
To affirm the staff decision, finding that Sandra Morris was overpaid retirement benefits in the amount of $3,304.32 with applicable interest that she must repay to SURS; to direct the staff to work with Ms. Morris to effectuate the payment; and that a written decision of factual findings and conclusions will be drafted by the Hearing Officer.
Ms. Mayer seconded the motion, which passed via the following roll call vote:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – absent
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Adjournment
There was no further business for the Claims Panel Committee and no public comment. Ms. Mayer moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Ms. Clifford and passed via the following roll call vote:
Ms. Clifford – aye
Ms. Mayer – aye
Trustee Pitman – absent
Meeting adjourned at 10:18 a.m.
Ms. Carolyn Welch Clifford
Hearing Officer