MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
December 5, 2018
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 9:55 a.m. Gene Bednarchik requested that the meeting convene in the memory of members John White, Tyre Wood – past president of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, and past president of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bob Steinbacher, President
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Richard Moody
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Steve Domanski – Pension
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Doak Smith – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee Chris Stine
GUESTS:
Tom Stires, Retired
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Frank Aguirre led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to ratify and approve the Board Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2018. David Peters so moved. Joe Vigil seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Board Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2018.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Tim Larson presented the Board with the certified election results. He reported that all Bylaw changes had been approved and stated that Juan Albarran won the election for the Pension Trustee position.
Tim Larson motioned to accept the certified election results. David Peters seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the certified election results.
2) Bob Steinbacher provided an update on the Pension Board staff meeting. He indicated that they have a new system in place for payroll deductions.
3) Bob Steinbacher informed the Board that the 2019 meeting dates have been added to the Master Calendar with other important dates.
4) Bob Steinbacher referred to the 2019 committee assignments and asked Trustees to let him know if they would like to change their committee assignments.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:10 am.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 11:17 am.
Member updates and personnel issues were discussed during Executive Session.
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to approve the actions taken in Executive Session. Gene Bednarchik so moved. Doak Smith seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the actions taken in Executive Session.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey provided the conference schedule for 2019. David Peters indicated that he would like to add the SIIA Washington Legislative Update conference.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer reminded the Trustees to turn in their expense reports before year end.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
1) John Jacobsen indicated that they are looking at a couple of dates in February for the annual onsite and asset allocation meeting with Beacon Pointe. He also reported that they received a capital call from the PICMO Bravo fund and indicated that they will be transferring from the money market account.
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 $811,300.38. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $811,300.38.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $125 for the LAFD Badge Promotion Ceremony. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $125 for the LAFD Badge Promotion Ceremony.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $200 to purchase a table at the L. A. Retired Fire & Police Assn. holiday party. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $200 to purchase a table at the L.A. Retired Fire & Police Association holiday party.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $750 for the Drill Tower 81 graduation ceremony. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $750 for the Drill Tower 81 graduation ceremony.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $12,000 in startup funds for the Hook & Ladder Enduro. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $12,000 in startup funds for the Hook & Ladder Enduro.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve all the medical bills totaling $792,183.75. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve all the medical bills totaling $792,183.75.
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 $26,007.03
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $2,400
The Life & Accident Death Withdrawal in the amount of $5,781
The Life & Accident Death Benefit in the amount of $12,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $49,749.93
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
Lowell C. Johnson
Nicholas P. Maricich
Gerald E. Mc Hale
Bruce L. Blackwell
Milton Joffe
Wilfred S. Atlas
Robert G. Berg
Michael V. Mercado
John A. White
Tyre N. Wood
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $27,685.41 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $27,685.41 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.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the Holiday bonuses for the LAFRA surviving spouses and surviving children. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Holiday bonuses for the LAFRA surviving spouses and surviving children.
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.
SECRETARY REPORT
Tim Larson informed the Trustees of an upcoming funeral and asked if any Trustees were available to present the flag.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE REPORT
Dave Peters informed that the proposed Bylaw changes were approved by the membership.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez informed the Board that the Marketing Department received an anonymous donation of $10,000. He indicated that the donations raised for the L.A. Marathon have so far reached $16,000.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Buzzard Bait Ride – January 18 – 20
2) Hook & Ladder – March 16th
3) St. Baldrick’s – March 30th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Vince Manzo – Tuesday, January 29th C @ FS21 Breakfast (Jacobsen)
2) Stephen Ruda & Ronald Mathews – Tuesday, January 29th C @ FS 87 Breakfast (Steinbacher)
3) Jack Fry – Saturday, February 9th B @ Torrance Redondo Beach Marriott (Godinez)
ADJOURNMENT
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to adjourn. Tim Larson so moved. Craig White seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m.
Bob Steinbacher, President