June 2020

LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

June 3, 2020

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 10:08 a.m. (Today’s meeting conducted via conference call due to National Emergency of Coronavirus)

ROLL CALL

MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jeff Cawdrey, President
Chris Stine, Vice President
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Chris Bustamante
Trustee J.D. Fox
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Jeff Halloran
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Juan Albarran – Pension
Trustee Steve Tufts – Pension
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director

MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Gayle Sonoda

GUESTS:

INVOCATION & Flag Salute

Rick Godinez led the invocation. Jeff Cawdrey led the flag salute.

RATIFICATION OF MINUTES

Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to ratify the May 6, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes. Tim Larson moved. Rick Godinez seconded. There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to ratify the May 6, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

1) Jeff Cawdrey provided a Pension meeting update and indicated that the meeting has been rescheduled for June 18th. He referred to the four additional questions from the Pension Board and indicated that we will answer them at the June 18th meeting. The questions pertain to LAFRA’s Kaiser and Anthem reps, specialty drug rates and for LAFRA to consider creating a self-funded plan for members with frozen subsidies. He indicated that they also wanted to go over the results from the retired member satisfaction survey.

2) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Pension subsidy audit and indicated that there was one minor recommendation from the Pension Board that pertained to LAFRA providing a more in-detail explanation of our administrative expenses.

3) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Drill Tower Class presentation and indicated that most recruits signed up for the medical plan.

4) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Retiree Survey results and indicated that 2,500 received it with 600 members responding. He indicated that the summary results were positive with members being extremely satisfied with customer service and the benefits of the plan.

5) Jeff Cawdrey referred to funeral reimbursements for active duty deaths in the department and indicated that the M.O.U. states that there is $30,000 benefit available to family members to help with funeral costs. He stated that LAFRA has been submitting receipts to the department for reimbursement for costs paid up front for those active duty death funeral expenses.

6) Jeff Cawdrey informed the Board that when sending emails through Outlook that contain sensitive information, there is an option to encrypt the email. He indicated that he would speak with Bob Dillon about Trustees sending these types of emails through their phones.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:23 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 10:47 a.m.

Member updates were discussed during Executive Session. No actions were taken.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

1) Todd Layfer referred to remote working and indicated that everything continues to run smoothly and stated that members are still being serviced. He indicated that we have extended the remote working until July 17th and will address the issue closer to that date to determine if remote working needs to be extended.

2) Todd Layfer referred to our business insurance renewals and indicated that our Insurance Broker will be sending us quotes for review.

3) Todd Layfer referred to the Golf Tournament and indicated that so far, the tournament is on still on schedule, however there may be certain protocols and guidelines in place for safety precautions. (This event has since been canceled)

4) Todd Layfer referred to the Relief Dues and indicated that they have been increased to $74.12 per month for actives and $7.42 per month for retired members effective July 1, 2020.

5) Todd Layfer informed the Board that we are in the process of recruiting a Human Resource Administrator. He stated that he narrowed the applications down to 4 candidates and will conduct Zoom meeting interviews next week.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

John Jacobsen indicated that the Investment Committee discussed alternative investment categories and recommended that they move forward with the following motion.

The committee recommends and I so move to invest into the TCW Talf Fund. There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to invest into the TCW Talf Fund.

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 $1,355,720.26. There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,355,720.26.

The committee recommends and I so move to pay $6,700 for a new scrubber system for the building. There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to pay $6,700 for a new scrubber system for the building.

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 $801,083.50. There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to approve the Express Scripts Commercial & EGWP claims and Admin fees totaling $801,083.50.

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 $17,269.74
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $9,803
The Life & Accident Withdrawals in the amount of $0
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.

Steve Berkery read the names of members who recently passed and asked for a moment of silence from the Board.

MEMORIALS
William M. Dunsmore
William A. Bates Jr.
Donald J. Workman
Donald B. Grant
James H. Wheeler II

Steve Berkery indicated that the Relief Committee discussed the option of members being able to use their death benefit and/or their Life and Accident Death benefit to purchase cemetery plots. He indicated that the committee agreed to a limit of selling two plots per member.

The committee recommends and I so move to allow Relief members to purchase no more than two LAFRA owned cemetery plots using their Death and/or Life & Accident Death benefit. There was no further discussion or objections.

Motion carried to allow Relief members to purchase no more than two LAFRA owned cemetery plots using their Death and/or Life & Accident Death benefit.

ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

Steve Berkery presented the following motions.

The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $11,617.77 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $11,617.77 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.

CORP. SECRETARY’S REPORT

Tim Larson provided a report on member statistics for the month of June.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT

Rick Godinez informed that the Scholarship Exam has been postponed until further notice.

MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

Rick Godinez informed that they have secured a $5K donation from Muertos Coffee who wishes to do a year-round fundraiser for the WODFF. He indicated that this company was founded by firefighters in Northern California and also sell products online.

SETTING OF DATES

1) Over the Line Tournament – October 6th

RETIREMENT DINNERS

1) Drew Oliphant – Sunday, August 13th @ The Odyssey Restaurant (Bednarchik)

ADJOURNMENT

Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to adjourn. Tim Larson so moved. Steve Berkery seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.

Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Jeff Cawdrey,President