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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