MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 10, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
President Bob Steinbacher called the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association to order at 10:35 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bob Steinbacher, President
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Steve Ruda
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Steven Domanski – Pension
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Doak Smith – Pension
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
GUESTS:
Dave Wagner, Grapevine Editor
Tom Stires, Retired
Ken Buzzell, Member
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Tim Larson led the invocation. Rick Godinez led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held April 5, 2017. David Peters so moved. Craig White seconded. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held April 5, 2017.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Tonetta Connor from the Harrington Group presented the 2016 Financial Audit Report. She indicated that the audit is performed in accordance with auditing standards. She indicated that they reviewed LAFRA’s Policies and Procedures, as well as the internal controls, and have issued an unmodified and clean opinion.
Joe Vigil presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the 2016 Audit Report as presented by the Harrington Group.
Motion carried to accept the 2016 Audit Report as presented by the Harrington Group.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Garth Flint presented the Quarterly Performance Review ending March 31, 2017. He reviewed the market performance and how it affected the LAFRA portfolio.
He informed the Board that Beacon Pointe is in the process of interviewing for a Chief Investment Officer and will make a decision in the next month. He also mentioned that they hired an expert in Asset Allocation and Portfolio construction.
John Jacobsen reported on the Morningstar Investment Conference he and Jeff Cawdrey attended.
PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Bob Steinbacher presented Angie Herrera and Tiffany Trac with plaques and thanked them for their long-time service to LAFRA.
2) Bob Steinbacher and Rick Godinez presented two Scholarship Awards to the winning recipients and indicated that the rest of the scholarship winners will be at the next Board meeting.
3) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Boyd Celebration of Life and thanked everyone involved with the planning.
4) Bob Steinbacher informed the Board that David Ortiz has resigned as Trustee. He indicated that there is an active Trustee position available.
5) Bob Steinbacher provided an update on the Pension Board meeting.
6) Todd Layfer referred to the Board Educational Offsite and indicated that he will send an agenda with parking instructions and a list of speakers who will present.
7) Dave Wagner referred to the Health Fair and indicated that they were under budget for the event. Bob Steinbacher indicated that there was lower than expected participation for the day and indicated that there were around 200 members in attendance.
8) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Pechanga Reunion and indicated that they are almost full with the RV reservations. He thanked Steve Domanski, Juan Albarran, Tim Larson and Doak Smith for all their efforts in planning the reunion.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Colorado Springs Memorial will be held on September 16th. He indicated that Darrayle Prosser and Wendy Cummings will be placed on the wall this year.
2) Jeff Cawdrey indicated that the Sacramento Fallen Firefighter Memorial will be held October 14th.
3) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Annual IFEBP Conference and indicated that we must be registered by September.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed the Board that we are adding a Marketing & Development Associate to assist the Marketing Director. He indicated that this is currently a temporary position for a possible permanent hire.
2) Todd Layfer referred to Hope for Firefighters and asked Trustees to sign up for their volunteer role. He indicated that they have room for two more fire stations for food booths.
3) Todd Layfer reported on Open Enrollment and indicated that we have added 40 new members with 115 dependent and four members terminated.
4) Todd Layfer informed that the LAFRA staff will have Business Communications Training. He indicated that the seminar will help enhance business writing.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
David Peters presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,117,476.92. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,117,476.92.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $200 for the LAFD Civilian Employee Award Luncheon. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $200 for the LAFD Civilian Employee Award Luncheon.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
David Peters presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the applications to the Medical Plan. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to accept all applications to the Medical Plan.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
Steve Berkery presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of $18,317.23
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $6,599,
The Life & Accident Death Benefit in the amount of $72,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $63,000
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief benefits.
Steve Berkery read the names of members who recently passed and asked for a moment of silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
Michael P. Reddy
Jack A. Teufel
David T. Moorman
Alicia L. Mathis
Dennis L. Mendenhall
Norman E. Fehle
John F. Rooney
John J. Haver
Donald E. Sampson
Lawrence M. Gimenez
Billy J. Miser
Sterling T. Johnson
Jerome A. Boyd
Walter F. Matthews
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $4,992.61 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $4,992.61 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the financial assistance applications for surviving spouses, active and retired members. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the financial assistance applications for surviving spouses, active and retired members.
ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
The committee recommends and I so move to advance funds for both active and retired members. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to advance funds for both active and retired members.
YEARBOOK COMMITTEE REPORT
Dave Wagner reported on the status of the photography schedule and indicated they are short several hundred members. Make-up photography sessions have been scheduled for June.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez reported that they are currently working on a Body Scan video that will be placed on the website. He referred to the LAFD Golf Tournament and indicated that Marlene Casillas has approached past sponsors and was able to get them to increase their sponsorship for this year’s tournament.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Board Educational Offsite – May 18th
3) Pechanga Reunion – May 22nd – May 26th
4) Hope for Firefighters – June 1st
5) Colorado Springs Memorial – September 16th
6) LAFD Golf Tournament – September 25th
7) Sacramento Fallen Firefighter Memorial – October 14th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) John Vidovich – Wednesday, May 24th B @ City Club (Kuljis/Bednarchik)
2) Ernie Ojeda – Saturday, May 27th C @ Ports O’Call Restaurant (Kuljis)
3) Alicia Welch – Thursday, June 1st C @ The Reef (Steinbacher)
4) Eric Strode – Saturday, July 8th B @ Marina Del Rey Marriott (Vigil)
5) Thomas Moore – Saturday, July 29th C @ FS 69 (Berkery)
6) John E. Sullivan – Sunday, August 20th B @ South End Racket Club (Steinbacher)
ADJOURNMENT
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to adjourn. David Peters so moved. Craig White seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
Bob Steinbacher, President