Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee

City of Norwich Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Fund Committee Minutes Meeting # 86 The Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee held its eighty-sixth meeting on Monday, January 12, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. in room 209, City Hall, Norwich, Connecticut. 1. ROLL CALL Members present were: Richard Benoit, Taftville Thomas Quinley, Yantic Joshua Pothier, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Kochanski, Laurel Hill Dennis Davis, City Pension Board Karen Mankowski, Occum Thomas Dawkins, Personnel Manager Gregory Ensling, East Great Plains Red McKeon, Occum/Past Chairman Richard Podurgiel, City Manager Members absent were: Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller/Treasurer Miriam Lopez, Citizen Appointee Joseph Morse, Citizen Appointee Richard Benoit called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. 2. MINUTES a) Review of last meeting minutes. Motion made to accept minutes as read by Dennis Davis. Seconded by Thomas Quinley. Approved. 3. REPORTS a) Treasurer’s Report: A revised Treasurer’s Report was submitted for October 1 through November 30, 2003. Motion made by Greg Ensling to accept the revised report. Seconded by Dennis Davis. Approved. b) Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer’s Report for December is not yet available and will be presented at the February meeting. 4. COMMUNICATIONS None 5. OLD BUSINESS a) A brief Committee discussion was held to review investment options and recommendations. Josh Pothier stated that the Savings Institute is  currently offering a variable rate CD that is paying 3.05%. City Treasurer, Mr. Murray, has reviewed multiple investment options and has concluded that the offering by the Savings Institute is currently the most attractive. The Finance Office has ordered the appropriate documents from the Bank and is currently in the process of drafting a letter for the City Council to review and approve the Savings Institute for dealings with the City of Norwich. Currently the recommendation is to allocate approximately $400,000.00 for the 3.05% variable CD and the remaining $600,000.00 shall remain in the Money Market Account. Current thinking is that the bulk of the Fund will remain in the Money Market to accord maximum flexibility in the coming months when interest rates are expected to rise. Motion made by Thomas Quinley to invest the Relief Fund money as discussed above, pending City Council approval of the Savings Institute. Seconded by Richard Podurgiel. Note: The letter of intent to establish dealings between the City of Norwich and the Savings Institute will be discussed at the January City Council Meeting. Approved. b) Steve Dubicki, East Great Plain – Mr. Ensling has the forms necessary for Mr. Dubicki and should have the completed forms ready for the next Committee meeting in February. c) It was stated to the Committee that Mr. Chabot’s military buy-back paperwork would be ready for Committee review and approval for the February meeting. 6. NEW BUSINESS a) Election of Officers 2004. Motion was made be Red McKeon and seconded by Joseph Kochanski that the same slate of officers by elected for the coming year. Approved. a. Chair – Richard Benoit b. Vice-Chair – Richard Podurgiel c. Secretary – Thomas Quinley d. Treasurer – Joseph Ruffo b) Red McKeon stated that the current death benefit for the Public Service Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) is $267,494.00 and can be paid for events that occur up to 24 hours after an emergency incident. This new funding level was approved October 1, 2003 and is intended to cover losses due to injury/death for fire/fire police/EMS. c) Mr. Ensling stated that Frank Novak from EGP has passed away. Mr. Ensling also stated the Rick Behrle, EGP, is also deceased. d) Karen Mankowski stated that Marvin Strout has also recently been deceased and she believes that his beneficiary is eligible for a refund of 7 years. Occum and the Finance Office will check into this further and report back to the Committee. e) Mr. Benoit noted that a special meeting had been tentatively scheduled for December 15, 2003 to specifically discuss Relief Fund finances and  investment options. However, a meeting notice was not sent to Committee membership and the meeting not held. All investment discussions at tonight’s meeting have satisfied the intent of the special meeting. 7. OTHER BUSINESS a. Next regularly scheduled meeting is February 9, 2004 at 5:00 pm. 8. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Dennis Davis and seconded by Greg Ensling. Approved, meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Thomas G. Quinley February 9, 2004