MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
January 7, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
President Juan Albarran called the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association to order at 10:23 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Juan Albarran, President
Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee James Coburn
Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee David Ortiz
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Mark Akahoshi
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Doak Smith
Trustee Steve Ruda
Trustee Steven Domanski
Trustee Barry Hedberg – Pension
Trustee David Lowe – Pension
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Chris Stine (Excused)
Trustee Francisco Hernandez (Excused)
Trustee David Peters (Excused)
Trustee Craig White (Excused)
Trustee Steve Berkery (Excused)
GUESTS:
Dave Wagner, Grapevine Editor
Bob Olsen, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Lee Kebler, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Tom Stires, Retired
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Frank Aguirre led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held December 3, 2014. David Lowe so moved. Chris Hart seconded. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes and Board actions of the Board of Trustees held December 3, 2014.
PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Andy Kuljis gave the Oath of Office to the Group 3 Trustees as well as new Trustees Frank Aguirre and Joe Vigil.
2) Juan Albarran presented the 2015 Committee’s list for the Trustees’ review. He mentioned that most committees will remain the same with the addition of the two new Trustees.
3) Juan Albarran indicated that they have had a few Building Committee meetings primarily to discuss the 7470 construction process. He informed that the original contractor for the demolition was not able to do the job, so they went with the runner-up contractor.
4) Juan Albarran mentioned that they attended the Drill Tower recruit class and made their presentation to sign them up for Relief and the Medical Plan.
5) Juan Albarran referred to the upcoming conferences and asked all Trustees to plan accordingly with their schedules.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed the Trustees that the Trustee Expense Forms have been distributed with the new mileage reimbursement rate.
2) Todd Layfer indicated that we are currently putting together the Operating Budget for 2015. He stated that he will first present it to the Admin Committee on January 21st and then to Board on February 4th for adoption and ratification.
3) Todd Layfer informed that their annual Beacon Pointe investment meeting will be held on February 11th to discuss the 2015 market outlook and research process.
4) Liberty Unciano informed the Board that they will begin the three phases of the audit and will meet with the Harrington Group and the Audit committee. She stated that the preliminary audit will be from February 17th through the 19th and the final phase of the audit will be from March 2nd through the 6th.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,047,310.68. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,047,310.68.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the professional fees in the amount of $161,848.68. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees in the amount of $161,848.68.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $500 for a trailer for Trustees to stay at the Buzzard Bait Ride event. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $500 for a trailer for Trustees to stay at the Buzzard Bait Ride event.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Barry Hedberg 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.
Barry Hedberg informed that the committee will be having a plan design meeting on January 20th.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of $17,557.91,
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $8,400,
The Life & Accident Death Benefits in the amount of $12,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $18,000.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief benefits.
James Coburn read the names of members who recently passed and asked for a moment of silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
Claude A. Griggs
Harvey E. Hixson
Norman Livengood
William D. Saunders
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $50,859.33 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $50,859.33 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.
EMERGENCY ADVANCEMENTS
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the emergency advancement applications for active and retired members. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the emergency advancement applications for active and retired members.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez stated that they are currently finalizing the details for the next Scholarship Awards. He stated that they are looking at an April 11th exam date and will try to get notification into the Grapevine in February. He indicated that they are targeting March 27th as the deadline for applications to be submitted.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Buzzard Bait Ride – January 16 – 19
2) Hook & Ladder Enduro – March 21st
3) Lane Kemper Softball Tourn – May 13th
4) LAFRA Pechanga Reunion – May 18 – 22
5) Hope for Firefighters – June 4th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Ray Mayo – January 22nd Ports O’ Call
2) Jim Jure – January 28th San Antonio Winery
3) Mike Ketaily – February 7th Duke’s Malibu, Ocean Room
4) Andrew Gutierrez – February 7th Luminarias
5) Russell Nakamura – February 22nd Fire Station 114
6) Sean Conway – February 25th Fire Station 11
7) Paul Hilleary – March 7th Banning Landing Community Center
8) Randy Beaty – March 18th The Odyssey Restaurant
9) Doug Reyes – March 19th Knollwood Country Club
10) Gregory Acevedo & Carlos Vargas – March 29th Knollwood Country Club
11) Gregory E. Newland – April 11th Dalmatian American Club San Pedro
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to adjourn. Barry Hedberg so moved. Chris Hart seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:17 a.m.
Juan Albarran, President
