LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
April 7, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
President Jeff Cawdrey called the Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association to order at 10:06 a.m. (Today’s meeting conducted via conference call and in person due to National Emergency of Coronavirus)
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jeff Cawdrey, President
Chris Stine, Vice President
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Chris Bustamante
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee J.D. Fox
Trustee Jeff Halloran
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Steve Tufts – Pension
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Juan Albarran – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller/Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Tyler Tomich led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to ratify the March 3, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes. Rick Godinez moved. Tyler Tomich seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the March 3, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey provided a Pension Board Meeting update and indicated that on the March 18th meeting they discussed possibly moving up our open enrollment timeline so that we would have the approved subsidy amount for non-Medicare members in our OE materials. He indicated the Pension Board increased the COLA increase at 1.5%. He stated that on the April 1st Pension meeting, the Board approved our LAFRA PPO plan and the LAFRA Kaiser plan as suitable plans for the next year. He indicated that they also discussed the non-Medicare subsidy increase.
2) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the attorney interviews and indicated that some were recommended by our auditors, the Harrington Group. He indicated that we recommend to hire Mike Kanne as our new outside legal counsel.
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to enter into an agreement with Attorney Mike Kanne effective April 1, 2021. Rick Godinez so moved. Tyler Tomich seconded. Todd Layfer indicated that this will be similar retainer type of agreement and structure as the previous attorney. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to enter into an agreement with Attorney Mike Kanne effective April 1, 2021.
3) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Hook and Ladder event and indicated that they raised over $13K for the WODFF. Steve Berkery indicated that they had a great turnout and stated that the silent auction went really well.
4) Juan Albarran referred to the Pechanga Reunion and indicated that we have 61 dedicated spots in the Pechanga RV Park and stated that 26 of them are reserved. He indicated that we have 15 wine tour spots reserved.
5) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Bylaws and Policy review and indicated that Jim Duffy has provided proposed bylaw changes for review. He indicated that we will discuss them at the July Board meeting and approve at the August Board meeting.
6) Jeff Cawdrey referred to a situation when a member lives out of state and AIMS has been unsuccessful finding a provider within a reasonable distance willing to accept the workers compensation fee schedule. He discussed the possibility of a single case agreement with AIMS allowing a member to use the LAFRA PPO Plan for his workers comp medical treatments. He discussed this issue with an AIMS representative to ask if they would be willing to produce an agreement with LAFRA that would guarantee reimbursement of dollars paid for workers comp claims for medical treatments incurred in other states. He indicated that he has yet to receive an answer. He indicated that Dawna Gray was going to look into the legal aspect of members being required to receive medical treatments in the State of California when a worker’s comp claim is involved.
7) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Cemetery Plot Policy and allowing members to use their Death Benefit to purchase LAFRA owned cemetery plots. He indicated that members have been asking if they could use this benefit to purchase other plots and/or other services. Steve Berkery indicated that this initially was to rid LAFRA of its current inventory of cemetery plots. The Board decided to further discuss the issue at the Board Educational Offsite meeting in June.
8) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Grapevine Memorial Page Policy and indicated that there was an issue with an error Death notice in the Grapevine. He indicated that it is the responsibility of the Community Liaison staff to verify death notices with the Grapevine Editor and staff.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 11:21a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 12:04 p.m.
Member updates were discussed during Executive Session. No actions were taken.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Chris Stine referred to the postponed Board offsite meeting and indicated that Juliet is helping with possible rescheduling in June as well as other hotel options.
2) Chris Stine asked those Trustees signed up for the Annual IFEBP Conference if they have received registration confirmation.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Todd Layfer referred to Hope for Firefighters and indicated that they are planning to have the event in October or November.
2) Todd Layfer indicated that we continue to plan for the Golf Tournament and indicated that we will need to determine restrictions for social gathering and catering.
3) Todd Layfer referred to the Over the Line Tournament and indicated they are looking to have the event on October 5 or 12.
4) Todd Layfer referred to the Lane Kemper Softball Tournament and indicated that we are waiting on the City of Los Angeles to issue permits.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Joe Vigil reported that we had our audit planning meeting and indicated that we are in the preliminary phase of the audit.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Tyler Tomich presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,106.292.04. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,106,292.04.
The committee recommends and I so move so approve $1K for the UFLAC Charity Golf Tournament as their putting contest sponsor. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $1K for the UFLAC Charity Golf Tournament as their putting contest sponsor.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Tyler Tomich presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the medical plan bills totaling $530,146.05. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Medical Plan bills totaling $530,146.05.
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 $86,049.70
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $5,450
The Life & Accident Death benefits in the amount of $24,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $35,000
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
Charles H. Clair
Richard W. Baker
Richard W. Rozendal
Lawrence O. Hamblin
Gary R. Manning
William C. Wareing
Clair L. Walker
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $63,433.96 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $63,433.96 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’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 approve the Emergency Advancements. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Emergency Advancements.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez reported that the Exam will be taking place this Saturday, April 10th.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez informed that there is a new video from member Stilson on the LAFRA website and talking about their new venture. He referred to the Golf Tournament on September 27th and indicated that we are still seeking sponsors. He referred to the L.A. Marathon and indicated that they have raised $2,100 so far.
SETTING DATES
1) Pechanga – May 24 – May 28
RETIREMENT DINNER
1) George Mikami Hall – April 18th Via Zoom
ADJOURNMENT
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to adjourn. Juan Albarran so moved. Chris Bustamante seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:23 p.m.
Jeff Cawdrey, President