Public commenter asks board to clarify whether administrative appeals exist for 2019 withdrawal

Rosalyn Holmes, participating remotely, told trustees she had been informed by the law department that neither the city nor the Cincinnati Retirement System (CRS) has an administrative process to address her claim stemming from a 2019 withdrawal. "I am asking the board to clarify whether I am entitled to any administrative process at all," Holmes said, and requested that the board record the administration's position if no process exists.

A law department attorney replied during public comment that there is no obligation to respond at the meeting and that, based on ongoing correspondence, the law department does not believe the board has jurisdiction to take up Holmes's matter. Trustees declined to make a legal determination in the meeting and asked the administration and law department to provide a formal written explanation for the board's records.

The board did not rule on Holmes's underlying disability or withdrawal claim during the session; Holmes explicitly said she was not asking the board to decide the substantive disability matter that day. Trustees said the written communication will be pursued so the board can decide whether to take further action.