LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
December 4, 2019
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 10:10 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bob Steinbacher, President
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee J.D. Fox
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Juan Albarran – Pension
Trustee Doak Smith – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
GUESTS:
Steve Ruda, Community Liaison
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Doak Smith led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to ratify the November 6, 2019 Board Meeting Minutes. Gene Bednarchik so moved. Frank Aguirre seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the November 6, 2019 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to certify the election results. Craig White so moved. Frank Aguirre seconded. The winners for the 2020 Election were as follows; Craig White, Rick Godinez, Danny Wu, Joe Vigil, Chris Bustamante, Jeff Halloran and Pensioner Steve Tufts. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to certify the election results.
2) Bob Steinbacher provided an update on the Pension Board meeting and indicated that LAFRA’s medical plan is on the docket for an audit in 2020.
3) Todd Layfer informed the Board of a donation to the WODFF in the amount of $100,000 from the Annenberg Foundation.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the 2020 Conference schedule and asked that Trustees let him know which ones they are interested in attending. He asked that they keep the deadline dates in mind when registering for these conferences.
2) Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Board and Committee meeting dates have been scheduled and distributed through email. He mentioned that the Board Offsite meeting will be scheduled at a different date than the day before the Golf Tournament.
3) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the committee assignments and asked Trustees to let him know which committees they would like to serve on in 2020.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Liberty Unciano asked that all Trustees submit their expense reimbursements as soon as possible.
2) Todd Layfer referred to the TPA implementation on January 1, 2020 and indicated that they are going through file transfer testing to ensure programming is working. He stated that December 20th will be the last check run for HealthScope Benefits to achieve a clean cut off between the TPA agencies. He indicated that the “Welcome Packets” with the new medical I.D. cards should be mailed out by December 16th.
3) Todd Layfer informed that there will be a Relief Dues increase and indicated that effective January 1, 2020, the active members will go up to $70.74 per month and retired members will go up to $7.08 per month. He indicated that the Sick & Injury benefit will increase slightly as well.
4) Todd Layfer and Liberty Unciano presented the 3rd Quarter Expenditure Review.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $959,069.43. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $959,069.43.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay up to $6K for the LAFD Pipes & Drums uniforms. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $6K for the LAFD Pipes & Drums uniforms.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $10K for the Heilig oil well rights appraisal. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $10K for the Heilig oil well rights appraisal.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the Express Scripts Commercial & EGWP claims and Admin fees totaling $874,440.42. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Express Scripts Commercial & EGWP claims and Admin fees totaling $874,440.42.
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 $34,738.96
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $10,417.06
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $30,000
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
Hugh C. Randolph
James V. Como
John M. Martinis
Vincent G. Braun
Fred E. Ihde
Arnold J. Samardich
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $38,984.80 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $38,984.80 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.
CORPORATE SECRETARY’S REPORT
The Relief Member statistics were reported for November 2019.
SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
Rick Godinez indicated that the Scholarship Committee will review the policies on eligibility for the scholarship program.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez informed that the Give to a Hero Holiday Online auction is up and running. He indicated that they’re promoting this fundraiser through the holidays to benefit the WODFF. He presented metal straws and indicated that there is an LAFD member that has started a business to manufacture these straws and will donate $3.00 for every straw sold to the WODFF.
NEW BUSINESS
Juan Albarran motioned to approve the purchase of a new vehicle for the incoming Vice President. Craig White seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the purchase of a new vehicle for the incoming Vice President.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 11:15 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 12:05 p.m.
Personnel matters and member updates were discussed during Executive Session. Actions were taken.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Buzzard Bait Ride – January 18th
2) Pechanga Reunion – May 18th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Andre Raya – Saturday, December 21st B @ Fire Station 2 (Godinez)
2) Sean Hughes – Monday, January 20th C @ Fire Station 4 (Bednarchik)
3) Roy Harvey – Saturday, February 15th B @ Loews Hotel (Sonoda)
ADJOURNMENT
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to adjourn. Juan Albarran so moved. Henry Gasbarri seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:07 p.m.
Bob Steinbacher, President