LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
February 3, 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. in honor of LAFRA employee Alex Juan. (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 Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Jeff Halloran
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Frank Aguirre
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 J.D. Fox
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Mike Sailhamer led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to ratify the January 6, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes. Frank Aguirre moved. Chris Bustamante seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the January 6, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey provided an update on the Pension Board request for information and indicated that we provided the required data containing claims and prescription drug spending. He indicated that we must provide this data annually in order to be deemed a suitable plan for our members. He indicated that our LAFRA staff and Liz Denson continue to work with the LAFPP on reporting issues pertaining to adding surviving spouses. He reported that the Pension Department is considering a mobile workforce that would possibly have 50% of their staff work from home on a permanent basis.
2) Jeff Cawdrey reported on the HealthComp Online Enrollment platform and indicated that we will be moving forward with this. He stated that this will go into effect for the January 2022 open enrollment.
3) Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Fire Hogs presented a check to the WODFF in the amount of $6,355 from events held last year. We thank them for their continued support and generous donations to our WODFF.
4) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the LAFRA Medical forms and indicated that we have removed the marital status box and changed how members are defined on the medical plan in terms of being a surviving spouse/surviving domestic partner.
5) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the LAFRA Beneficiary form and indicated that the Relief Committee decided that it would not accept any beneficiary form received after the date of a member’s death. He stated that the language on the form is set to be updated with this disclosure. This issue came about when we received a beneficiary change form after a member had passed away yet it was dated two years prior.
6) Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Buzzard Bait Ride non-event raised $2,500 for the WODFF.
INVESTMENT COMMITTTEE REPORT
Garth Flint and Mike Breller of Beacon Pointe reviewed performance of the LAFRA 4th Quarter Investments.
John Jacobsen made the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the allocation into the Beacon Pointe Credit Opportunities Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the allocation into the Beacon Pointe Credit Opportunities Fund.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 11:35 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 12:33 p.m.
Member updates and a personnel matter were discussed during Executive Session. No actions were taken.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Todd Layfer referred to the Member Profile mailing and indicated that it will be going out mid-March. He indicated that Bob Dillon will coordinate the mailing of this project.
2) Todd Layfer referred to the LAFRA owned oil wells and indicated that this past year, we earned $136K in royalties.
3) Todd Layfer referred to Hope for Firefighters and indicated that it may be held around October. He indicated that the Golf tournament is still being planned for September.
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 $1,223,035.62. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,223,035.62.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $1,000 for a work party for an injured member. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $1,000 for a work party for an injured member.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the medical plan bills totaling $926,078.76. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Medical Plan bills totaling $926,078.76.
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 $20,4482.92
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $2,400
The Life & Accident Withdrawals in the amount of $3,300
The Life & Accident Death benefits in the amount of $36,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $55,000
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
Joseph Lozovina
Louis V. Schlosser
Gerald L. Sullivan
Guy C. Miller
John J. Conn
Nikki L. Livada
Frederick H. Ruth
Wallace K. Longworth
Eduard T. Stimson
Richard E. Peachy
Frank D. Stassi
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $46,673.14 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $46,673.14 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
There were no emergency advancements for January 2021.
GRAPEVINE/WEB COMMITTEE REPORT
Danny Wu reported that the Grapevine is receiving an additional $10K annually in ad revenue.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez reported that there are 28 applicants for the 2020 Scholarship program. He stated that the Exam date will be April 10th for both 2020 and 2021 applicants.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez reported on a seasoning salt company working on fundraisers for the WODFF and will donate 20% of their sales. He indicated that they will also be donating auction items.
SETTING DATES
1) Hook & Ladder – March 20, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to adjourn. Steve Berkery so moved. Jeff Halloran seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:58 p.m.
Jeff Cawdrey, President