Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee

City of Norwich Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee Minutes Meeting # 97 The Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee held its ninety-seventh meeting on Monday February 13, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. in room 209, City Hall, Norwich, Connecticut. 1. Roll Call Members present were: Richard Benoit, Taftville Thomas Quinley, Yantic Thomas Dawkins, Personnel Manager Joseph Kochanski, Laurel Hill Donald Leary, East Great Plain Karen Mankowski, Occum Joshua Pothier, Deputy Comptroller Red McKeon, Occum/Past Chairman Dennis Davis, City Pension Board Member Members absent were: Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller/Treasurer Robert Zarnestke, City Manager Richard Benoit called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. 2. Minutes a) Review of last meeting minutes. i. Motion made to accept the minutes by Dennis Davis, seconded by Red McKeon. Approved 3. Reports a) Treasurer’s Report: i. January Treasurer’s Reports were presented to the Committee. ii. A motion was made to accept the reports as presented by Thomas Quinley, seconded by Dennis Davis. Approved. 4. Communications None 5. Old Business a) There will be an informational discussion held in Room 209 on March 1, 2006 at 1700 hrs, to further discuss potential Relief Plan Ordinance changes/revisions. b) Josh Pothier reported that the question of combining the Relief Fund monies with the City Pension Plan monies has been reviewed by the City Pension Plan Administrator. The Administrator deems the suggestion inadvisable. Josh further stated Chris Kashmar, from UBS Paine Webber, further indicated that it would be cost prohibitive to combine the monies and maintain the necessary administrative controls. 6. New Business a) A motion was made to suspend the normal meeting rules to review and add new members to the Relief Fund Plan. A motion made to suspend the rules by Thomas Quinley, seconded by Dennis Davis. Approved. i. New Members 1. EGP: Paul J. Barthelet Jr., Joseph Crowley, Matthew Madore and Josh Wildowsky. 2. Occum: Kyle Seitz and Edward M. Smith. 3. Taftville: Andrea Rizzuto and James Marciano. 4. Yantic: Frank A. Manfredi. Motion was made by Thomas Quinley to approve the applications of the nine new members to the Relief Fund Plan. Seconded by Dennis Davis. Approved. All new members’ monies have been collected and deposited in the Bank of America account. ii. A member from Taftville, Steven B. Eaton, is requesting benefits after 20 years of successful service. Benefits to begin January 15, 2006. A motion made by Thomas Quinley to begin benefits as noted, seconded Dennis Davis. Approved. iii. Occum provided paperwork for request for benefits for Carroll J. Spaulding III, for 20 years of service to commence January 15, 2006. Motion made by Thomas Quinley to begin benefits as noted, seconded by Dennis Davis. Approved. iv. A motion made by Donald Leary to return to the regular agenda, seconded by Red McKeon. Approved. Meeting returned to regular agenda and rules.  b) Red McKeon informed the Committee that up-to date physicals and associated paperwork for all active firefighters is necessary to eliminate future eligibility questions relating to death benefits for any firefighter injured/killed in action. c) Thomas Quinley raised a question relating to plan member’s ability to meet the plan’s yearly eligibility requirements if the member has become injured in a non-fire department related incident and cannot participate in fire incidents and drills due to medical disability. i. Question: Can the member’s active time be pro-rated to meet the eligibility requirements (meet 20% of incidents and drills for time medically cleared to participate)? ii. Answer: The Ordinance is specific about eligibility time – no pro- rating for injuries sustained in non-fire department related incidents. The member must meet the Plan Ordinance’s 20% yearly requirements no matter the length of time he/she is medically cleared to participate. iii. Exception: For fire department related injury events – each event will be reviewed and approved by the Committee for participation/eligibility waivers. A member will not be penalized for a fire department related injury event. All members of the Relief Fund Committee unanimously agreed with the ruling relating to injury events and Plan participation. Motion made to adjourn by Thomas Quinley, seconded by Donald Leary. Approved. Meeting adjourned at 1730 hrs. Respectfully Submitted, Thomas G. Quinley March 13, 2006