MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
June 4, 2014
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 9:57 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Juan Albarran, President
Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
Trustee James Coburn
Trustee Steven Domanski
Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee Steve Ruda
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Steve Tufts
Trustee Doak Smith
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Barry Hedberg – Pension
Trustee David Lowe – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Mark Akahoshi (Excused)
Trustee Francisco Hernandez (Excused)
Trustee Craig White (Excused)
Trustee David Ortiz (Excused)
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary (Excused)
GUESTS:
Dennis Mendenhall, Retired
David Wagner, Grapevine Editor
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Chris Stine 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 May 7, 2014. David Peters so moved. Rick Godinez seconded. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees held May 7, 2014.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez presented each of the Scholarship Program winners with their awards and congratulated them on their efforts. He also acknowledged the Scholarship Committee and thanked them for their hard work.
PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Juan Albarran reported on the LAFRA Pechanga Reunion and indicated that it was a great turnout. He thanked Tim Larson and Steve Domanski for their hard work in planning the event and making sure the attendees had a great time.
2) Juan Albarran mentioned that they will be attending a recruit enrollment at the Drill Tower on Friday and will also attend the graduation on June 12th. He indicated that they will be taking some LAFRA staff on Friday to help enroll some of the recruits.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Bob Steinbacher indicated that everyone attending the Annual IFEBP Conference in Boston should have already received their confirmation. He asked that they book their flights as soon as possible to avoid paying higher fees.
2) Steinbacher also mentioned that he attended the RCP Annual Investment Conference in Chicago and indicated that they reviewed each of their ten funds.
BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT
Steve Domanski reported that the Building Committee met earlier in the month and indicated that they reviewed some renderings and made a few changes.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Steve Domanski reported that they had met with Garth Flint from Beacon Pointe and indicated that they were in the process of updating the Investment Policy Manual. He also stated that the Investment Committee will be interviewing for a new Large Cap Manager on June 25th.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer provided a summary of those helping at the Hope for Firefighters event on June 5th. He noted that the second page provided staffing areas, planning and menu items. He reported that 19 fire stations are cooking and four are manning beverage booths. He also indicated that they have decided to raise the pricing on entrees from $7 to $8.
2) Todd Layfer referred to the insurance renewals and indicated that they will meet with the insurance broker, the Rule Company in the 3rd week of June and will report back to the Board with the final numbers for the policies.
3) Todd Layfer reported that they received a second distribution from the BRAVO Fund in the amount of $746,176.38. He stated that LAFRA has received over $1.5 million back from this fund so far.
4) Todd Layfer reported on the Open Enrollment statistics and indicated that the net gain for members joining the medical plan was 13 with 34 dependents effective July 1st.
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 $994,263.90. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $994,263.90.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the professional fees in the amount of $125,540.47. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees in the amount of $125,540.47.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $500 for the LAFD Graduation recruit class. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $500 for the LAFD Recruit Class Graduation.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $200 for the LAFD Fire Hogs Memorial Ride. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $200 for the LAFD Fire Hogs Memorial Ride.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $8,500 for a plan expediter for the building plans. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $8,500 for a plan expediter for the building plans.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $10K for a building challenge consultant. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $10K for a building challenge consultant.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $5K to purchase a new server for the office computers. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $5K to purchase a new server for the office computers.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the $100 deposit for next year’s Pechanga LAFRA Reunion. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the $100 deposit for next year’s Pechanga LAFRA Reunion.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
David Peters 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.
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 $16,453.20,
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $3,580,
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $36,000.
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
Thomas M. Campbell
Daniel L. Mattox
Roger B. Duncan
Robert J. Brinkman
Francis L. Wommack
Vernon R. Begley
Ronald D. Smith
Hallack F. Robb, Jr.
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $7,427.61 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $7,427.61 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
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.
GRAPEVINE/WEB REPORT
Chris Hart asked Trustees to let him know when members ask questions about retiring or medical questions so that they could place items on the website that may answer their questions.
BY-LAW COMMITTEE REPORT
David Lowe indicated that there have not been any submissions for changes to the By-laws.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Hope for Firefighters – June 5th (Picnic May 18th)
2) LAFD Recruit Graduation, Drill Tower 81 – June 12th 10:00 am
3) Fire Hogs Memorial Ride – June 28th
4) Get Together Foundation Concert @ Canyon Club – July 3rd
5) Over the Line Tournament – September 3rd
6) Colorado Springs Memorial – September 18th – 21st
7) LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament – September 22nd
8) SIIA Conference Arizona – October 5 – 7
9) IFEBP Annual Conference (Boston) – October 12th – 15th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Ben Simpson – June 7th Edgemont Ranch
2) Paul Sebourn – June 20th Ports O’Call Restaurant
3) Curtis O. Black – June 20th Newport Beach
4) Deresa Teller – June 29th Simi Valley
5) Robert “Bob” Motheral – July 10th Towsley Lodge
6) Joseph Johnson – July 19th Friendly Hills Country Club
7) Ed Tapia – September 6th Castle Catering Pasadena
8) Matthew Powell – September 13th Dalmatian Amer. Club
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to adjourn. David Peters moved. Chris Hart seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 10:54 a.m.
Juan Albarran, President
