Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee

City of Norwich Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Fund Committee Minutes Meeting # 79 The Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Fund Committee held its seventy-ninth meeting on Monday, September 9, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. in room 209, City Hall, Norwich, Connecticut. 1. ROLL CALL Members present were: Richard Benoit, Taftville Thomas Quinley, Yantic Gregory Ensling, East Great Plains Red McKeon, Occum/Past Chairman Joseph Kochanski, Laurel Hill Miriam Lopez, Citizen Appointee Dennis Davis, City Pension Board Karen Mankowski, Occum Joseph Morse, Citizen Appointee Joseph Ruffo, Treasurer Richard Podurgiel, City Manager Members absent were: N/A Meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Richard Benoit. A welcome was extended to new member, Miriam Lopez. 2. MINUTES The meeting minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and accepted noting a typographical error in Mr. Ensling’s area code, which was corrected. An original thank you letter to Mr. Hal Burdo was turned over to Mr. Podurgiel for mailing to Mr. Burdo. Motion made for approval by Dennis Davis, seconded by Red McKeon. Approved. 3. REPORTS a) Financial Report summaries were presented to the Committee for review and approval for the months of May, June, July and August. Motion made by Dennis Davis and seconded by Red McKeon. Approved. 4. COMMUNICATION Motion made to suspend Rules in order to receive a new communication by Dennis Davis, seconded by Thomas Quinley. Motion approved. a) Communication received, a certification from the City Clerk, Dee Anne Brennan that the City Council had reappointed John Morse to the  Volunteer Fire Relief Fund Committee for a term to expire on July 2, 2004. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Miriam Lopez was appointed to the Volunteer Fire Relief Fund Committee to a term to expire on July 2, 2004. Motion made to return to Rules of Order and normal agenda by Dennis Davis and seconded by Thomas Quinley. Approved. 5. OLD BUSINESS None 6. NEW BUSINESS a) Karen Mankowski indicated that there were two members from Occum, who would be requesting a withdrawal of pension funds in the near term. As of 8-9-02 Ron Ferris was believed to have had 8 years of credited service. As of 8-3-02 James Marciano was believed to have 4 years of credited service. A motion made by Thomas Quinley for the Finance Office to work up the refund for each individual and to verify credited years of service. Seconded by Greg Ensling. Approved. b) Dick Benoit indicated that Taftville would have one member coming up for the initiation of Pension Benefit payments in November 2002. The member is Joseph Caisse. 7. OTHER BUSINESS a) Relief Fund Committee Members received the Hooker&Holcombe Actuarial Report dated January 1, 2002, prepared July 26, 2002, for information and comment. b) A brief discussion initiated by Thomas Quinley, regarding page 5 of the report, section B. Actuarial Assumptions, which indicated a projected interest return of 6 ½ % compounded annually, may not be appropriate or consistent with current earning expectations. A motion was made to request Hooker & Holcombe to respond in writing detailing the basis for their assumption of projected earnings and to pay the $3,500.00 report preparation invoice. Seconded by Dennis Davis. Approved. c) Red McKeon raised a question as to the basis for utilizing Hooker & Holcombe services versus other qualified firms, i.e.: is the Relief Fund obligated by contract to Hooker & Holcombe? Mr. Podurgiel stated that there is no contract involved and that Hooker & Holcombe has a long- standing relationship with the City of Norwich and has performed actuarial reports as requested. Red McKeon indicated he would like to provide additional information to Joe Ruffo for review regarding potentially more cost effective services, utilizing alternate resources.  d) City Treasurer, Bill Murray, will be scheduled to attend the December or January meeting per Mr. Podurgiel. e) Reminder to all Volunteer Department Pension Coordinators, that money for 2002 contributions is due by January 2003. Note: Annual contribution is $120.00 per member. 8. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Dennis Davis and seconded by Thomas Quinley. Approved, meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Thomas G. Quinley December 9, 2002