MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
June 6, 2018
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 9:49 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bob Steinbacher, President
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Richard Moody
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Steve Domanski – Pension
Trustee Doak Smith – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Joe Vigil
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Chris Stine led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to ratify and approve the Board Meeting Minutes of May 9th and the Special Board Meeting minutes of May 30, 2018. Steve Domanski so moved. Tim Larson seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve minutes Board Meeting Minutes of May 9 and the Special Board Meeting Minutes of May 30, 2018.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Scholarship Awards and indicated that some of the awards to a few recipients will be distributed today and will reschedule the rest when they are available.
2) Bob Steinbacher reported on the Pechanga Reunion and indicated that the event was well attended. He thanked Steve Domanski, Tim Larson and Doak Smith for their efforts with planning the event.
3) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Colorado Springs Memorial and reported that the Family Support Group held a meeting with UFLAC and LAFRA to discuss planning and communication.
4) Jeff Cawdrey reported on the meeting with Express Scripts and PSG. He indicated that PSG provided results from an audit performed on the Express Scripts data and reported no significant issues.
5) Bob Steinbacher reported on the Drill Tower recruit class and indicated that all 47 recruits signed up for Relief Membership and the Medical Plan.
6) Bob Steinbacher informed the Board that there will be no LAFRA Holiday party this year.
7) Bob Steinbacher presented Liberty Unciano and Juliet Brandolino an employee recognition plaque for their 10 years of service to LAFRA.
8) Bob Steinbacher provided a Pension update and indicated that we have been going back and forth with the contract items.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:26 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 10:40 a.m.
Personnel matters and member updates were discussed during Executive Session. No actions were taken.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the upcoming conferences and indicated that Rick Godinez and Joseph Vigil will be attending the Benefit and Communication Technology conference in July. He indicated that the annual IFEBP conference will be held in New Orleans this year.
2) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the changes made to the Policy Book and indicated that those changes need to be approve at the July Board meeting. He indicated that the Administrative Committee discussed placing verbiage in the policy book referring to plaque purchases for Fire Stations related to Line of Duty Deaths.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer referred to Hope for Firefighters and indicated that they went through a walk through with the security company.
2) Todd Layfer informed that he and Bob Steinbacher will meet with the insurance broker to discuss insurance renewals on June 25th.
3) Todd Layfer referred to the Relief Dues and indicated that they will be increasing in July. New amounts for Actives will be $68 per month and Retirees will be $6.18 per month.
4) Todd Layfer informed that the Wellness Program benefit communication will be going out the last week of June to be as close to the implementation date of July 1st.
5) Todd Layfer reported that the WODFF received an anonymous donation in the amount of $850,000. He indicated that this was part of the efforts of Marlene Casillas and the Planned Giving Program.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $962,429.71. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $962,429.71.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $200 for the LAFD CER Awards. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $200 for the LAFD CER Awards.
The committee recommend and I so move to approve $125 for the LAFD Promotional Badge Ceremony. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $125 for the LAFD Promotional Badge Ceremony.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $1,519.46 to purchase a plaque at Air Ops for Fire 3. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $1,519.46 to purchase a plaque at Air Ops for Fire 3.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $4,962.50 to purchase new Honor Guard uniforms. Craig White indicated that moving forward, the LAFD will be paying for these uniforms. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $4,962.50 to purchase new Honor Guard uniforms.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre 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
Mike Sailhamer presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of $10,401.82
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $4,200
The Life & Accident Death Benefit in the amount of $12,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $25,000
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief benefits.
Mike Sailhamer read the names of members who recently passed and asked for a moment of silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
Donald W. Honus
Robert L. Reed
Lee S. Horn
Cecil D. Morris
Lex Winter
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Mike Sailhamer presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $6,936.01 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $6,936.01 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.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez indicated that they will present four more Scholarship winners on June 20th.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
Rick Godinez referred to the anonymous $850K donation to the WODFF and how the Planned Giving Program works. He indicated that Marlene Casillas suggested considering creating an Eternal Flame Wall that would contain plaques of those making substantial donations.
Rick Godinez referred to the L.A. Marathon and indicated that the WODFF has been accepted as a preferred charity for the 2019 race.
Rick Godinez referred to the Golf Tournament and indicated that the Marketing Department has been working on soliciting donors.
Rick Godinez presented a video highlighting some of our members and their stories of how the Relief Association has helped them. He indicated that this video will be placed on the LAFRA and WODFF websites.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Hope for Firefighters – June 7th
2) Henry Munoz Fundraiser – June 10th
3) Fire Hogs Memorial Run – July 14th
4) LAFRA Board Offsite – September 23rd
5) LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament – September 24th
6) IFEBP Annual Conf. – October 14 – 16
7) LAFRA Open House – November 3rd
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Mark Akahoshi – July 26th B @ Brookside Golf & Country Club (Aguirre)
ADJOURNMENT
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to adjourn. Craig White so moved. Tim Larson seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:22 a.m.
Bob Steinbacher, President