LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
January 6, 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 10:04 a.m. (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 J.D. Fox
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 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 Craig White
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Jim Duffy led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to ratify the December 2, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes. Tyler Tomich moved. Frank Aguirre seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the December 2, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey motioned to nominate Pension Trustee Steve Berkery as the LAFRA Corporate Secretary. Joe Vigil so moved. Frank Aguirre seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to appoint Pension Trustee Steve Berkery as the LAFRA Corporate Secretary.
2) Newly appointed Corporate Secretary Steve Berkery administered the Oath of Office to the President, Vice President, Group 3 Trustees and newly elected Trustee Brian Wall.
3) Jeff Cawdrey informed the Trustees that they need to complete and sign the Business Associate Agreement and the LAFRA Code of Conduct.
4) Jeff Cawdrey asked Trustees to submit their request for LAFRA Trustee shirts and business cards.
5) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the 2021 Committee Assignments and indicated that he and Chris Stine have not made changes to the committees. He asked Trustees to let him know if they wanted to change their committee assignments and sit on other committees.
6) Jeff Cawdrey provided a Pension Board meeting update and indicated that annually the Pension Board requests claims data and other medical information from LAFRA that shows our plan is suitable for its members. He indicated that the Pension Board is also requesting information on our Admin fees associated with the plan. He referred to LAFRA’s response to the City Attorney regarding Anya Freedmen’s opinion that the Pension Board has a fiduciary responsibility to provide a lower cost medical plan.
7) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the vaccine rollout and indicated that he has had a few inquiries as to when LAFRA members will receive the vaccine. He indicated that there has been discussion about vaccine availability and phase distribution in the medical committee meeting.
8) Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Fire Hogs were able to raise $5K donation for the WODFF and want to set up a date to present the check and take a photo in front of the LAFRA building.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:32 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 11:00 a.m.
Member updates and a personnel matter were discussed during Executive Session. Action on a personnel matter was taken.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Chris Stine referred to the Board Offsite and indicated that they will look at a date in April. He stated that we will discuss long and short-term goals with the committees, benefit changes if any along with processes and procedure improvements.
2) Chris Stine referred to the 2021 Conferences and indicated that the only one available for registration is the Annual IFEBP Conference in October.
3) Chris Stine referred to the Bylaws and Policy Book review and indicated that they will schedule that in April for July approval.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed the Board that the IRS mileage rate reimbursement has change to $.56 cents per mile for 2021.
INVESTMENT COMMITTTEE REPORT
John Jacobsen provided an update on the LAFRA investments.
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 $1,426,549.93. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,426,549.93.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $750 for a DME device and installation for an injured member. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $750 for a DME device and installation for an injured member.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $300 in meal deliveries for an injured member. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $300 in meal deliveries for an injured member.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $1000 for a work party for sick member. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $1000 for a work party for sick member.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the medical plan bills totaling $1,553,170.09. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Medical Plan bills totaling $1,553,170.09.
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 $106,780.65
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $4,078
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $35,000
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
James A. Chatterton
Billy G. Storey
Robert K. Young
Francisco M. Aguilar
Howard H. Rose
Lester E. Mueller
Leo F. Vanvalkenburg
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
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 REPORT
Steve Berkery provided insight of the responsibility and duties of the Corporate Secretary.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez informed that the Exam date will be April 10th. He indicated that announcements will be made in the February and March Grapevine. He again stated that there will be two separate contests; one for 2020 and one for 2021 candidates.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez indicated that we received a $10K donation from a foundation that has donated to the WODFF in the past. He reported that we received a $25K donation from Cozen O’Connor and indicated that Marlene is working on a thank you letter for them. He mentioned that Wilshire the Fire Dog has passed away and wanted to send condolences to the Penrod family.
SETTING DATES
1) Hook & Ladder – March 20, 2021 (non-Event)
ADJOURNMENT
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to adjourn. Steve Berkery so moved. Mike Sailhamer seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:27 a.m.
Jeff Cawdrey, President
