HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 8, 1992OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FIRE DEPARTMENT RELIEF ASSOCIATION, VOLUNTEER DIVISION
APRIL 8, 1992
The Board of Trustees Meeting was called to order by Mayor Murzyn
at 7:10 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Nawrocki, Ruettimann, Murzyn - present
Clerkin, Peterson - absent
Councilmember Clerkin was attending a meeting of the Human
Services Commission.
2. PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
This meeting is being held to negotiate by- law changes which
would affect the pension plan for the Volunteer Division.
John Fearon, President of the Relief Association, advised the
trustees that presently there are seven retired members who
are receiving pension payments.
He noted that the changes were due as of August, 1991.
Members of the Association felt the delays in negotiations
were due to a change in the City Manager position and the
election of new people to the City Council, which serves as
the Board of Trustees.
Members of the Board of Trustees had received copies of the
actuarial valuation for 1990 and the by-laws of the
Association. They were not copied on the actuarial for 1991.
This information was forwarded to the Finance Director in
August of 1991.
The actuary had been requested to compute costs for the City
to the pension plan based on six percent and on eighteen
percent. This information was to be forwarded to the Finance
Director in August 1991. The Boardmembers did not receive
copies of this information.
Rick Lange, a member of the Association, advised that it has
been a goal of the group to make the distinction between the
Board of Examiners and the Board of Trustees and what the
obligations and responsibilities of each body were. He
recalled that many years ago the City Council had been
selected to sit as the Board of Trustees.
The present agreement is that pension increase requests would
be considered every four years, although this timeframe can be
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
APRIL 8, 1992
PAGE 2
adjusted. Lange noted that in the past, the Board of Trustees
has selected one or two individuals to negotiate the increase
or changes to the pension plan with representatives of the
Association. These negotiations would be brought back to the
Board of Trustees.
Boardmember Nawrocki
Association were.
inquired what
the requests of the
Lange responded they were to decide whether there would be a
representative of the Board doing the negotiations or if the
entire Board of Trustees would be involved with the
negotiating and if the date of August 28, 1991 was accepted as
the retroactive date for increases resulting from the upcoming
negotiations.
Boardmember Ruettimann felt the City Manager would be the
likely person to represent the Board of Trustees for
negotiation purposes. Lange felt 'availability' should be a
consideration when choosing the Board representative, as it
had taken considerable time to schedule tonight's meeting.
Mayor Murzyn agreed that the City Manager should represent the
Board of Trustees.
Lange noted that making any pension payment
retroactive to August, 1991 would only benefit
volunteers and not active volunteers.
increases
retired
Boardmember Ruettimann inquired if the contributions to the
fund were on an equal basis between employer and employee.
Fearon referred to the actuarial study which indicated that
there is no member portion paid. All of the contributions were
from the employer.
Boardmember Ruettimann inquired how the six percent and
eighteen percent were chosen. Fearon replied these figures are
in line with current trends with a high and a low. Whatever
percentage is chosen would be a fixed rate for four years.
Every four years the law requires an actuarial be done. It is
the hope of the Association to reach a point where a modest
increase will be considered rather than a drastic change such
as the last time an adjustment was made.
Lange noted that, originally with the former City Manager, the
Association had requested the fund increase be tied to
whatever increase the salaried firefighters received on an
annual basis or increases received by other union members, in
the City. The former City Manager contended this increase
should be negotiated. Lange had hoped this process could be
somewhat automatic and an escalator mode could be adopted.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
APRIL 8, 1992
PAGE 3
Boardmember Nawrocki requested the Association supply
information on the history of the benefit schedule and
comparables from other cities and fire departments. Fearon
advised that previously the Association had given the former
City Manager comparables from twenty-six other cities and
departments. They will supply this information again.
Discussion continued regarding the history of the separaton of
the pension plan for the volunteers and the pension plan for
paid fireighters.
Members of the Board of Trustees decided to select a
negotiator or negotiating team at the April 13, 1992 Council
Meeting. This information will be forwarded to the President
of the Volunteer Relief Association.
Boardmember Ruettimann requested that members of the City
Council be copied on the minutes and proceedings of the
negotiations.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Nawrocki, second by Ruettimann to adjourn the Board
of Trustees Meeting at 8:17 p.m. Roll call: All ayes
~o-An'ne Stu'dent, '~6ard of
Ma~-~r~/Donald J.~d~zy~/ Jr.
Trustees Recording Secretary