LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
May 5, 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 10:05 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 Jeff Halloran
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Brian Wall
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Steve Tufts – Pension
Trustee Juan Albarran – Pension
Todd Layfer – Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller/Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Rick Godinez
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Mike Sailhamer led the invocation. John Jacobsen led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to ratify the April 7, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes. Steve Berkery moved. Chris Bustamante seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the April 7, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey introduced Mike Kanne as LAFRA’s new legal counsel. Mike Kanne thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve LAFRA and briefly provided insight to his litigation experience and background as well as past clients.
2) Jeff Cawdrey provided an update on the Pension Board meeting and we discussed the open enrollment timeline.
3) Jeff Cawdrey informed the Board that the upcoming June 2nd Board meeting will be in-person in the LAFRA office board room.
4) Jeff Cawdrey referred to Open Enrollment and reported that 24 members joined the medical plan and 21 have termed.
5) Juan Albarran referred to the Pechanga Reunion and indicated that they have 34 RV spots reserved and 44 people signed up for the Wine Tour. He indicated that Mike Sailhamer will coordinate the golf day.
6) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Drill Tower 81 recruit class and indicated that they will be presenting on May 18th to approximately 30 recruits.
7) Jeff Cawdrey indicated that he attended a UFLAC meeting and indicated that they discussed mental health and treatments.
8) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the LAFRA medical claims and indicated that they were up by 23.66% for the 1st Quarter of 2021.
9) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the new domestic partner process. If the member is active, the domestic partner arrangement must satisfy the requirements of the City of Los Angeles for the domestic partner to receive health care benefit. If the member is retired, domestic partner arrangements must satisfy the requirements of L.A. Fire and Police Pensions.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Garth Flint and Mike Breller presented the LAFRA 1st Quarter Investment Performance review. They reviewed our current investment allocations and reviewed performance by asset class holdings.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 11:29 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 11:53 a.m.
Member updates were discussed during Executive Session. No actions were taken.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Chris Stine referred to the Board Offsite on June 7 & 8 and indicated that it will be held in Huntington Beach. He indicated that we will be discussing short- and long-term goals for LAFRA. 2) Chris Stine referred to the Annual IFEBP conference and indicated that those that have registered should have received information on hotel information and registration.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed the Board that LAFRA staff are scheduled to return to work at the LAFRA office in July. He indicated that we will use a hybrid schedule, splitting the employees into two groups. The groups will work on an alternating basis by working one week from home and one week in the office.
2) Liberty Unciano provided an update on the current annual audit.
MINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
John Jacobsen presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,239,602.12. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,239,602.12.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the professional fees in the amount of $88,748.90. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees in the amount of 88,748.90.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $600 for the Drill Tower 81 Graduation ceremony. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $600 for the Drill Tower 81 Graduation ceremony.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $9,500 initial setup fee for the email system migration and $226.05 per month service fee. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $9,500 initial setup fee for the email system migration and $226.05 per month service fee.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
John Jacobsen presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the medical plan bills totaling $874,317.19. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Medical Plan bills totaling $874,317.19.
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 $16,225.24
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $9,249.32
The Life & Accident Death benefits in the amount of $24,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $15,000
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
John M. O’Neill
Frank W. Borden
Lee S. Lewis
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $30,844.34 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $30,844.34 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
No Emergency Advancements
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Mike Sailhamer reported on the attendance for the Scholarship Exam day and indicated that the winners will be presented at the June Board meeting.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Gayle Sonoda informed that the WODFF will now be an official charity on the Kelly Blue Book website. She indicated that Kaiser will donate two mountain bikes for the L.A. Marathon and 5K fundraiser.
SETTING DATES
1) Pechanga – May 24 – May 28
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 12:14 p.m.
Jeff Cawdrey, President
