MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
October 9, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
President David Marino called the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association to order at 9:40 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- David Marino, President
- Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
- Andrew Kuljis, Secretary-Treasurer
- Trustee Juan Albarran, Battalion 3
- Trustee Chris Hart – Battalion 4
- Trustee Mark Akahoshi, Battalion 5
- Trustee Gary Matsubara – Battalion 7
- Trustee Doak Smith – Battalion 9
- Trustee David Peters – Battalion 10
- Trustee Chris Stine – Battalion 11
- Trustee John Jacobsen – Battalion 13
- Trustee Michael Overholser – Battalion 14
- Trustee Glen Prine – Battalion 15
- Trustee Francisco Hernandez – Battalion 17
- Trustee Dennis Mendenhall – Battalion 18
- Trustee David Ortiz – Headquarters 1
- Trustee Kurt Stabel – Headquarters 2
- Trustee Tom Stires – Pension 2
- Trustee Robert Henderson – Pension 3
- Executive Director – David Ned Smith
MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Trustee James Coburn – Battalion 1 (Excused)
- Trustee Tim Larson – Battalion 6 (Excused)
- Trustee Gene Bednarchik – Battalion 2 (Excused)
- Trustee William Dunn – Battalion 12 (Excused)
- Trustee Warren Braun – Pension 1 (Excused)
INVOCATION
Secretary-Treasurer Andrew Kuljis led the invocation.
RATIFICATIONS OF MINUTES
David Marino entertained a motion to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held September 25, 2008. David Peters so moved. Kurt Stabel seconded the motion. Kurt Stabel asked that Investment Memorandum be included in the minutes. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held September 25, 2008 and to include the Investment Memorandum.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
1) David Smith addressed the Strategic Planning Session the Board had attended the previous week and asked that the results of the Strategic Planning efforts for the past year be included in the minutes of this meeting.
2) David Smith referred to the new initiatives handout from the Strategic Planning session including the mission, values and goals for the next year and asked to have them incorporated into the minutes as well.
Chris Hart motioned to adopt the Strategic Planning session’s new goals and initiatives for the next year and incorporate into the minutes. Kurt Stabel seconded the motion. Chris Hart suggested placing a link on the website for members to view.
Motion carried to adopt the Strategic Planning session’s new goals and initiatives for the next year and incorporate into the minutes.
3) David Smith referred to the Cost Allocation proposal discussed at the Strategic Plan offsite and asked that the Board accept and adopt as the Cost Allocation Plan going forward for 2009.
David Peters motioned to adopt the Cost Allocation Plan for year 2009 as presented. Chris Stine seconded the motion. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to adopt the Cost Allocation Plan presented at the Strategic Planning Session for 2009.
4) David Smith mentioned that the invites for the Open House event on November 6th have been mailed. David Marino mentioned that Juliet O’Malley had gotten the vendors to lower their costs compared to previous years without compromising quality and has done an outstanding job.
5) David Smith informed the Board that the WODFF was going to be a recipient at a fundraiser being held by the Young Nak Church on October 19th.
6) David Smith provided an update on the search for a new web designer and indicated that he and David Marino had met with one of the prospects which resulted in a proposal. He indicated that the proposed cost was $12,500 which was half of the initial proposal amount. He provided a one-page information sheet of the proposal for the Trustee’s review. Their recommendation was that the Board approve finalizing the scope of the work to done and negotiating a contract over the next month not to exceed $20,000 with this web designer.
David Peters motioned to approve up to $20,000 for website design. Chris Stine seconded the motion. Chris Hart suggested that they review the contract items and provide input. Kurt Stabel asked if they’d have the ability to have pdf version of the Grapevine. David Smith indicated that because the Grapevine is such a large data file, that no average computer would function properly when trying to view the Grapevine on the website. He did mention that there was an option of placing a table of contents for members to click on in order to view the magazine in chapters. On the question, there was an objection. Fifteen voted in favor of the motion, one voted opposed.
Motion carried to approve up to $20,000 for website design.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Robert Steinbacher encourage Trustees to book their flights if there were attending any of the conferences scheduled. He also asked that they book their flights on their personal credit cards in case there was a need to change their reservation.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Chairman David Peters presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the usual and customary bills in the amount of $196,312.14. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the usual and customary bills in the amount of $196,312.14.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the professional fees in the amount of $34,849.28. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees in the amount of $34,849.28.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve donating 6 T-shirts to support a fundraiser for a firefighter paralyzed from an outside fire department. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve donating 6 T-shirts to support a fundraiser for a firefighter paralyzed from an outside fire department.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the contract with Daniel Marino to produce 100 custom made flag boxes at $140 each. This is the same cost as the previous vendor. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the contract with Daniel Marino to produce 100 custom made flag boxes at $140 each.
Executive Session
Board entered into Executive Session at 10:02am.
Board adjourned from Executive Session at 10:17am.
David Marino entertained a motion to ratify the employee issue discussed in Executive Session. David Peters so moved. Kurt Stabel seconded the motion. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify the employee issue discussed in Executive Session.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Chairman Kurt Stabel addressed the obvious that the market being very negative. He asked that the Trustees review his previous memo. He stated that the investment committee would continue working on finalizing the transition plan to reallocate the investment mix to the allocation plan approved by the Board. He also mentioned there had been a coordinated cutting of interest rates by the Federal Government by 50 basis points.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Chairman Michael Overholser presented the following motions.
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 the applications to the Medical Plan.
ACTIVE
MEMBER APPLICANTS COMING ON PLAN EFFECTIVE DATE
- Anderson, Scott Rollins Bates, Logan R. (Nephew) 10/1/08
- Baker, Tyrone F. Baker, Denise M. 9/21/08
- Corntassel, Brian Corntassel, Abigail Renee (Dtr.) 9/1/08
- Dasner, Christoper Dasner, Kade Brady (Dtr.) 9/2/08
- Glenchur, mark Leigh Glenchur, Jade Renee (Dtr.) 8/6/08
- Gschweng, Chrisophter Gschweng, Beatrix Irene (Dtr.) 9/2/08
- Hoover, Brian Hoover, Kimberly (Spouse) 10/1/08
- Rodriguez, Frank A. Magana, Angelica L. (Dom. Partner) 10/1/08
- Rodriguez, Jose N. Self 9/22/08
- Sarbu, Florin Sarbu, Olivia A. (Spouse) 10/1/08
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
Asst. Chair Gary Matsubara presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the Sick and Injury benefits for active and retired members in the amount of $39,435.83. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the Sick and Injury benefits in the amount of $39,435.83.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the Estate Planning benefits in the amount of $4,151. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the Estate Planning benefits in the amount of $4,151.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the Relief Death benefits in the amount of $18,000. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the Relief Death benefits in the amount of $18,000.
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Juan Albarran presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $6,149.42 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $6,149.42 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund in September 2008
- RALPHS
- FIRE STATION NO. 73 IN HONOR OF CAPTAIN TIMOTHY MCDONELL
- SHERRY ROOK IN MEMORY OF RALPH C. ROOK
- MARY R DARR IN MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND JACK D. DARR
- GLENN JAYNES
- HOWARD L KELLEY IN MEMORY OF NANCY & MARGIE KELLEY
- FIRE STATION NO. 63 FROM YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER FUND
- AXA EQUITABLE
- ELAINE W. FUJIU IN MEMORY OF JAMES JUST
- FIRE STATION NO. 73 FROM OUR EXTINGUISHER FUND
- THOMAS J. YOUNG IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR FRIEND JACK DARR
- MARJORIE J WILLIAMSON IN MEMORY OF NOREEN HENDERSON
- POLLY S KEELING IN MEMORY OF JACK DARR
- CYNTHIA MCCLELLAN IN MEMORY OF JACK DARR
- RUTH E VAUGHAN IN GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING LAFRA DOES
- DONNA R MACDONALD IN MEMORY OF MURIEL YOUNG
- JOHN J. ADAMS IN MEMORY OF MY GOOD FRIEND EARL GIBBS
- SCOTT MILLER IN MEMORY OF STEVEN CLARK
- JACK A. BENNETT IN MEMORY OF ROBERT E. WHITELAW
- WILLIAM ROXBY IN MEMORY OF JACK DARR
- BEVERLY J CASE IN MEMORY OF LAWRENCE (LARRY) KORCHAK
- LEO DEMPSEY IN MEMORY OF JACK DARR
- LEO DEMPSEY IN MEMORY OF JOHN HUGHES
- SANDRE A. WALLIN IN GRATITUDE FOR LAFRA’S ASSISTANCE
- BARRY DISSELHORST IN MEMORY OF EARL D. GIBBS
- GERALD HUBER IN MEMORY OF JAMES JUST
- FIRE STATION NO. 47 FROM YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER FUND
- MARIE D SHAFER
- JANET O HERMAN IN MEMORY OF JIM TROTTER
- JANET O HERMAN IN MEMORY OF NOREEN HENDERSON
- RUTH E DICKS IN MEMORY OF JACK DARR
- SHIRLEY M PETERSON IN MEMORY OF JACK DARR
- EDWARD V YORK JR. IN MEMORY OF YOUR FATHER ENGINEER HARRY R. CORRELL
- CATHERINE M NAEGLE IN MEMORY OF A GOOD FRIEND G.C. CURTIS
- DOROTHY I. SAMMARTANO IN HONOR OF EARL GIBBS
The committee recommends and I so move to assist a surviving spouse with $2,316.12 per month with a six month review. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to assist a surviving spouse with $2,316.12 per month with a six month review.
The committee recommends and I so move to assist a retired member with $2,400 per month with a six month review. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to assist a retired member with $2,400 per month with a six month review.
The committee recommends and I so move to assist an active member with one-time payment of $4,500 for purchase of Durable Medical Equipment. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to assist an active member with a one-time payment of $4,500 for purchase of Durable Medical Equipment.
MEMORIALS
Robert L. Koeing
Jack D. Darr
Jack A. Just
James W. Trotter
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) David Marino presented the Trustees with a one-sheet information sheet for them to use when explaining the proposed by-law changes and the reason for the changes.
SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT
Andrew Kuljis indicated that the election planning had been going well. He mentioned that they had sent the proposed by-laws amendments to be included in the ballots.
He mentioned that they had been doing quite a bit of work on assisting widows. He mentioned Jan Carver-Graf was doing a phenomenal job in assisting other widows.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Chairman Doak Smith indicated that the committee has had a couple of meetings and are working to hire a new audit accounting firm. Six accounting firms were sent “requests for proposals”. He mentioned that they have decided that a change in auditors would be a good move and mentioned that they were not satisfied with the services of the previous accounting firm. The Audit Committee has scheduled meeting with the two leading candidates for next week.
David Smith mentioned that both of the prospective companies offered consulting which would benefit the Association.
GRAPEVINE COMMITTEE REPORT
Chris Hart indicated he would schedule a meeting for the committee to meet to discuss the possibility of making improvements in the Grapevine and reducing its costs. He questioned some of the articles printed in the Grapevine and asked if they were needed.
NEW BUSINESS
David Smith mentioned that they had discussed changing the hours of the Dalmatian’s employee who drives the truck to the fire stations. We are going to test late afternoon hours and weekends. He also mentioned that Mark Akahoshi was going to get more involved while William Dunn recovered.
SETTING DATES
1) LAFRA Open House – November 6th
2) Chili Cook Off – November 22, 2008 (7:00a.m. – 2:00p.m.)
3) Holiday Hoorah – December 13th Biltmore Hotel
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) G. Expinoza, G. Beckenhauer, M. Martinez, P. Gutierrez, M. Torres, R. Armendariz, J. Loyd – October 10th The Queen Mary
2) Jim Finn – October 13th Sportsmen’s Lodge
3) Jim Sanchez – October 14th Ports O’Call Restaurant
4) James Featherstone – October 15th Kyoto Grand (New Otani)
5) Billy Zaring – October 16th Odyssey Restaurant
6) John “Sparkie” Holloway October 17th Knollwood Country Club
7) Myron Davis – October 28th TBA
8) Thomas Kenyon – November 4th Brookside Country Club
9) David Perez – November 14th Odyssey Restaurant Granada Hills
10) Roger Krueger – November 19th Taix Restaurant
11) David Perez – November 14th Odyssey Restaurant Granada Hills
12) Roger Krueger – November 19th Taix Restaurant
13) Glen Prine – December 4th Ports O Call Restaurant (Marino)
14) Chuck Mills – January 7, 2009 LAPD Academy
ADJOURNMENT
David Marino entertained a motion to adjourn. David Peters so moved. Frank Hernandez seconded the motion. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn in.
The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 10:57am.
David Marino, President
