LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
November 4, 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 10:07 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 Chris Bustamante
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee J.D. Fox
Trustee Jeff Halloran
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
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 Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Chris Bustamante led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to ratify the October 7, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes. Frank Aguirre moved. Rick Godinez seconded. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the October 7, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey provided a Pension meeting update and indicated that the Pension Board inquired about if LAFRA could assist those members that did not opt into the 2% with medical plan options. He stated that he responded to the Pension Board, that LAFRA could not offer a lower option plan because it could be detrimental to our PPO plan. In a Plan with multiple benefit offerings, a major concern is that an inadequately designed “low option” may result in “adverse selection” against the existing “high option” plan (i.e., the better risks all gravitate toward the low option plan which, in turn, quickly makes the high option plan progressively less affordable – in short, the reverse effect. As always, our goal is to maintain the long-term stability of all our health benefit offerings (including our PPO Plan), in line with needs of our Members. Consistent with that goal, we will continue to evaluate plan design with input from our consultants and will advise you of any proposed changes. He indicated this currently affects only non-Medicare population.
2) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Workers Comp reimbursements and indicated that when a member passes away with an approved claim, whose an active-duty member, the family gets up to $30K for funeral expenses.
3) Jeff Cawdrey informed the Board that Dawna Gray, Heather Leavitt and himself had met with the 4600 Group discussing how they can help recoup some of our workers comp claims. He indicated that the 4600 Group will provide a proposal on how they will help LAFRA members.
4) Jeff Cawdrey indicated that the Hook & Ladder non-event sold T-Shirts and raised about $8K for WODFF.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Garth Flint and Mike Breller of Beacon Pointe reviewed the LAFRA 3rd Quarter Performance of our investments. The LAFRA Investment Policy statement was also discussed.
John Jacobsen presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to adjust our Investment Policy language as recommended by Beacon Pointe. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to adjust our Investment Policy language as recommended by Beacon Pointe.
The committee recommends and I so move to allocate funds and enter into agreement with Charles Bank effective allocation year 2021.
Motion carried to allocate funds and enter into agreement with Charles Bank effective allocation year 2021.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at 11:10 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 11:46 a.m.
Member updates were discussed during Executive Session. No actions were taken.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) Todd Layfer provided an update on the Trustee Elections and indicated that 1,325 ballots have been cast from the eligible 5,906. He stated that the voting opened on October 23rd and ends on November 23rd. Weekly reminders are being sent to encourage members to vote.
2) Todd Layfer referred to open enrollment and indicated that 47 members have been added to the plan and 18 members have left.
3) Todd Layfer asked Trustees to submit their expenses to Loan Tran for payment.
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 $1,179,740. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $1,179,740.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $626.07 for honor guard uniform flag clips and shoulder pieces. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $626.07 for honor guard uniform flag clips and shoulder pieces.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve $400 for books and classes for surviving spouses which will be organized by Valerie Lawrence. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $400 for books and classes for surviving spouses organized by Valerie Lawrence.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the medical plan bills totaling $848,146.31. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the Medical Plan bills totaling $848,146.31.
Jeff Cawdrey informed that the Medical Committee discussed updating the language concerning legal guardianship.
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 $37,901.20
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $9,400
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $60,000
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
Ray E. Van Blarcom
James F. Person
John K. Parker
Harold B. Hogan
William Alvarez
Melvin K. Marion
Jon W. Jacobsmeyer
Richard G. Peterson
Richard H. Olson
Jerry R. Brakeman
Gerald W. Ramaekers
Robert E. Engel
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Mike Sailhamer presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $35,685.75 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $35,685.75 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.
GRAPEVINE/WEB COMMITTEE REPORT
Danny Wu indicated that John Hicks is trying to obtain articles with firefighters and their parents who were on the job.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Rick Godinez indicated that we will have two pools of candidates. The 2020 applicants will compete in 2021 and indicated that they will be tested separately. He indicated that the other pool of new 2021 applicants will compete and be tested on the same day as the 2020 applicants in the Spring of 2021.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Rick Godinez reported that we received a $25K donation for the WODFF from Cozen O’Conner Foundation. He also mentioned that we received around $90K for the WODFF from the Golf Tournament efforts even though the event was canceled due to the Covid Pandemic. He mentioned that Muertos Coffee continues to raise money for WODFF.
SETTING DATES
1) Hook & Ladder – March 20, 2021 (non-Event)
2) LAFRA Open House – November 7th (CANCELLED)
3) LAFRA Holiday Dinner Dance – December 12th (CANCELLED)
ADJOURNMENT
Jeff Cawdrey entertained a motion to adjourn. Juan Albarran so moved. Rick Godinez seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:08 p.m.
Jeff Cawdrey, President