PSPRS Board (Fire) Minutes 12.12.2024.pdf

CITY OF BUCKEYE 
PUBLIC SAFETY RETIREMENT BOARD (FIRE) 
DECEMBER 12, 2024  
MINUTES  
  
City Hall 
530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 
Executive Conference Room - 1st Floor 
10:00 a.m.  
 
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(2) or (3) the Board may, by majority vote, recess or adjourn to 
executive session at one or more times during the meeting, as needed to confer with the Board Attorney 
for legal advice regarding any item listed on this agenda or to discuss or consider records exempt by 
law from public inspection. 
1. 
Call to Order/Roll Call  
  
Chairman Heustis called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. 
  
Members present: Chairman Craig Heustis, Board Member William Reynolds, Board Member 
Howard Rubin, Board Member Cody Rounds, Board Member Omar Jimenez (virtual) 
  
2. 
Public Safety Retirement Board (Fire) Action Items  
  
2.A  
Board to take action on the approval of the September 16, 2024, Public Safety Retirement 
Board (Fire) Meeting Minutes. 
 
A motion was made by Board Member Rubin and seconded by Board Member Reynolds to 
approve the September 16, 2024, meeting minutes. Motion passed unanimously.  
  
2.B  
Board to take action on the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) 
Accidental Disability Retirement Application of Nathaniel Weakland. 
 
Board Attorney Lesli Sorensen reported that Kathryn Baillie, attorney for Nathaniel Weakland, 
indicated she does not wish to address the Board. Ms. Sorensen confirmed that the Independent 
Medical Examination (IME) report has been received, and the Board is now in a position to either 
accept, deny, or table the application. Ms. Sorensen noted that there may be items the Board 
may wish to discuss in Executive Session.  
A motion was made by Board Member Rubin and seconded by Board Member Rounds to 
convene into Executive Session. The motion passed unanimously.   
The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:05 a.m. 
 
2.B.1 Reconvene Public Meeting     
 
A motion was made by Chairman Heustis and seconded by Board Member Rubin to reconvene 
into the public meeting. Motion passed unanimously.  
 
The Public Meeting was reconvened at 10:22 a.m.

Following the executive session, a motion was made by Board Member Rounds stating, “I move 
that the Board approve the Accidental Disability application of Nathaniel Weakland, noting that 
the Medical Board circled “Yes” as to a pre-existing condition on the Form, however the IME 
Report clarifies that Mr. Weakland’s “ability to work as a firefighter from 2010 to 2022 without 
documentation of disabling… symptoms, performance issues, or… treatment suggests that his 
disability is not the result of a condition or injury that preceded his membership in PSPRS. 
Further, the Board resolves the conflicts noted in the IME Report in favor of the applicant.” The 
motion was seconded by Board Member Reynolds. Motion passed unanimously.  
In reference to Nathaniel Weakland’s application, Board Attorney Lesli Sorensen presented the 
following questions for the Board’s review and the Board’s responses: 
1. Did the employee file the application after the disabling incident or within one year of 
ceasing to be an employee? 
Answer: Yes. 
2. Did (or will) the employee terminate by reason of disability? 
Answer: Yes. 
3. Did employment terminate based on a disciplinary issue? 
Answer: No. 
4. If the member’s period of DROP has ended, if applicable, did (or will) the employee 
terminate by a reason of disability? 
Answer: Not Applicable 
5. Is the employee still working a position within their job classification that the Local Board 
considers a reasonable range of duties? 
Answer: No. 
6. Has the employee refused a position within their job classification that the Local Board 
considers a reasonable range of duties? 
Answer: No. 
7. Did the injury or condition occur prior to the current PSPRS membership date? 
Answer: No. 
8. Was the injury or condition the result of an event incurred during the performance of the 
employee’s duty? 
Answer: Yes. 
 
2.C  
Board to take action on the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) 
Accidental Disability Retirement Application of Mark Miller.   
 
Ms. Sorensen reported that the IME report for Mark Miller had been received. Mark Miller 
expressed his appreciation for the Board’s timely support in the matter. 
 
Board Member Rounds made a motion stating, “I move that the Board approve the Accidental 
Disability application of Mark Miller.” The motion was seconded by Board Member Rubin. Motion 
passed unanimously. 
In reference to Mark Miller’s application, Board Attorney Lesli Sorensen presented the following 
questions for the Board’s review and the Board’s responses: 
1. Did the employee file the application after the disabling incident or within one year of 
ceasing to be an employee? 
Answer: Yes.

2. Did (or will) the employee terminate by reason of disability? 
Answer: Yes. 
3. Did employment terminate based on a disciplinary issue? 
Answer: No. 
4. If the member’s period of DROP has ended, if applicable, did (or will) the employee 
terminate by a reason of disability? 
Answer: Not Applicable 
5. Is the employee still working a position within their job classification that the Local Board 
considers a reasonable range of duties? 
Answer: No. 
6. Has the employee refused a position within their job classification that the Local Board 
considers a reasonable range of duties? 
Answer: No. 
7. Did the injury or condition occur prior to the current PSPRS membership date? 
Answer: No. 
8. Was the injury or condition the result of an event incurred during the performance of the 
employee’s duty? 
Answer: Yes. 
 
2.D  
Board to take action to appoint Bianca Perdomo as the Public Safety Personnel Retirement 
System (Fire) Board Secretary. 
 
A motion was made by Board Member Rounds and seconded by Board Member Rubin to 
appoint Bianca Perdomo as the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (Fire) Board 
Secretary. The motion passed unanimously. 
   
3. 
Comments from the Board Members  
 
Chairman Heustis stated the reports are very important to understand why something does or 
does not happen and he would like to see more detailed reports. 
Board Member Rubin and Board Member Reynolds agreed better report writing is needed. 
 
4. 
Adjournment  
  
The meeting was adjourned at 10:33 a.m.  
 
 
 
Craig Heustis, Board Chairman 
ATTEST: 
 
Bianca Perdomo, Board Secretary 
 
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the Public Safety 
Retirement Board (Fire) meeting held December 12, 2024. I further certify that a quorum was 
present. 
 
 
Bianca Perdomo, Board Secretary