LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
January 8, 2020
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:
Jeff Cawdrey, President
Chris Stine, Vice President
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Chris Bustamante
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Jeff Halloran
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Juan Albarran – Pension
Trustee Steve Tufts – Pension
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee J.D. Fox
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Jim Duffy
GUESTS:
Dave Wagner, Grapevine Editor
John Hicks, Grapevine Editor
David Jones, Attorney
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Steve Tufts led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to ratify the December 4, 2019 Board Meeting Minutes. Rick Godinez so moved. Tim Larson seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the December 4, 2019 Board Meeting Minutes.
CORPORATE SECRETARY
Tim Larson administered the Oath of Office to the Group 2 Trustees; Rick Godinez, Gayle Sonoda, Steve Tufts, Chris Bustamante Joe Vigil, Danny Wu and Group 1 Trustee Jeff Halloran.
Tim Larson administered the Oath of Office to President Jeff Cawdrey and Vice President Chris Stine.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey presented Bob Steinbacher with a gift from the Board of Trustees and thanked him for his hard work and dedication to the Relief Association. Bob Steinbacher thanked everyone for the most gratifying opportunity to serve the Relief Association and its members.
2) Jeff Cawdrey distributed the 2020 Committee Assignments and told the Trustees to feel free to sit in on other committees if they wish to do so.
3) Jeff Cawdrey provided a Pension meeting update and discussed the upcoming subsidy audit planning and schedule. He also stated that they will be presenting the medical plan design to Pensions. He indicated that the Pension Department is requesting that LAFRA decrease the number of rate buckets to 30 for retirees.
4) Jeff Cawdrey asked all Trustees to sign the Business Associate Agreement and the LAFRA Code of Conduct for 2020.
5) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Buzzard Bait Family Ride coming up on January 18th and indicated that this will be its 23rd year. Tim Larson informed that he will be not able to attend the event this year and asked if other Trustees would be able to go and help out.
6) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Pechanga Reunion and indicated that it is scheduled for May 18th through May 22nd. Juan Albarran indicated that they are in the process of scheduling events for that week and agency representatives for Wednesday.
7) Jeff Cawdrey informed the Trustees that on February 5th, they will be taking Board and individual portraits.
8) Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Firefighter of the Year Luncheon will be held April 30th and will be honoring our Trustee, Rick Godinez.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:39 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 11:00 a.m.
Gene Bednarchik motioned to approve the actions taken in Executive Session. Tyler Tomich seconded. Jeff Cawdrey stated that member updates and meeting with legal counsel were discussed during Executive Session. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the actions taken in Executive Session.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Chris Stine informed the Board that their Educational Offsite meeting is scheduled for April 20th – 21st and will be held at the Hotel Indigo in DTLA.
2) Chris Stine referred to the upcoming conferences for 2020 and indicated that he will distribute a list of conferences and deadline dates to register.
3) Chris Stine referred to the Bylaws and Policy Book and indicated that they have been distributed to all Trustees. He asked them to review them to determine if there are any changes or updates that need to be made.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed the Board of the new IRS mileage reimbursement rate which is $ 57.5 cents per mile. He indicated that the Trustee Expense forms have been updated to reflect this change.
2) Todd Layfer indicated that the LAFRA financial audit planning meeting will take place on January 28th. He indicated that he will send a reminder email to the Audit Committee.
3) Todd Layfer indicated that he is preparing the annual operating budget and will present to the Board at the March Board meeting.
4) Todd Layfer referred to the TPA implementation and indicated that the process was fairly smooth with minor issues.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
John Jacobsen indicated that the annual Investment Committee meeting will be on February 27th at Beacon Pointe in Newport Beach. He indicated that they have a few money managers scheduled to attend to discuss their performance.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Joe Vigil reported that the audit planning meeting is scheduled for January 28th.
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 $980,056.45. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $980,056.45.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the contract renewal with the Family Support Group consultants with up to a 5% increase per year for two years.
Motion carried to approve the contract renewal with the Family Support Group consultants with up to a 5% increase per year for two years.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the winning bid of $15K for the purchase of the ex-President’s vehicle. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the winning bid of $15K for the purchase of the ex-President’s vehicle.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $5K for the consumer privacy protection act on the LAFRA owned websites. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $5K for the consumer privacy protection act on the LAFRA owned websites.
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 $1,544,493.35. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Express Scripts Commercial & EGWP claims and Admin fees totaling $1,544,493.35
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 $51,198.31
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $4,200
The Life & Accident Withdrawals in the amount of $2,614
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
Richard W. Watson
John K. Wills
Frank Fasmer
Wayne W. Schenk
Edward H. McAdam
Marion O. Carroll
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $61,055.93 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $61,055.93 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.
GRAPEVINE COMMITTEE REPORT
Danny Wu thanked Dave Wagner for his many years of service as Editor of the Grapevine Magazine and informed that this was his last day.
CORPORATE SECRETARY’S REPORT
Tim Larson reported on the membership stats for the month of January.
SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
Rick Godinez indicated that they have a tentative Exam date of April 4th. He stated that the application filing period will be from March 2nd through March 27th.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez reported that the online auction held in December raised $11K for the WODFF. He indicated that the Big 5K Run will be held March 7th and are encouraging all fire stations to participate and honor a fallen firefighter.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Buzzard Bait Ride – January 17th – 20th
2) Big 5K Run – March 7th
3) L.A. Marathon – March 8th
4) St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser – March 14th
5) Hook & Ladder – March 21st
6) Pechanga Reunion – May 18th – 22nd
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Sean Hughes – Monday, January 20th C @ Fire Station 4 (Bednarchik)
2) Adam Zimmerman – Friday, January 31st C @ Air Operations FS 114 (Hicks)
3) Roy Harvey – Saturday, February 15th B @ Loews Hotel (Sonoda)
4) Steve Martinez – Feb. 22nd B @ Romona Hall (Bednarchik)
ADJOURNMENT
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to adjourn. Frank Aguirre so moved. Rick Godinez seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
Jeff Cawdrey,President
