Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee

City of Norwich Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee Minutes Meeting #102, February 12, 2007 The Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee held its 102nd meeting on Monday, February 12, 2007, 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 Karen Mankowski, Occum Red McKeon, Occum/Past Chairman Donald Leary, East Great Plain Joshua Pothier, Assistant Comptroller Brian Curtin, City Treasurer Members absent were: Dennis Davis, City Pension Board Member Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller Robert Zarnestke, City Manager Richard Benoit called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. Mr. Benoit introduced the new City Treasurer, Brian Curtin, who is replacing Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray retired on December 31, 2006. Mr. Curtin has held several other positions within the City of Norwich Government, including the position of Alderman for 5 years. 2. Minutes: The January meeting minutes were reviewed. A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by Thomas Dawkins, seconded by Karen Mankowski. Approved. 3. Reports: a. Treasurer Report: The January Treasurer’s report were presented and reviewed. A motion to accept the report as presented was made by Thomas Quinley, seconded by Donald Leary. It was noted that the Citizens’ Bank CD that matured on January 2, 2007 and the Savings Institute CD that will be mature on February 27, 2007, would not be rolled over into CDs at this time pending the Committee’s decision to divest investments via North Pointe to the American Fund Plans. 4. Communications: None 5. Old Business: a. Richard Benoit reviewed the Taftville year-end summary. Taftville’s contributions to the Relief Fund amounted to $3,240. A copy of the summary was provided to each Committee member. b. Karen Mankowski reviewed the Occum year-end summary. Occum’s contributions to the Relief Fund amounted to $2,160. A copy of the summary was provided to each Committee member. It as also noted by Karen that Matthew Lyons was a new Relief Fund member this year who purchased two (2) years (one (1) year of cadet time and current year). c. Joseph Kochanski reviewed the Laurel Hill year-end summary. Laurel Hill’s contributions to the Relief Fund amounted to $900. A copy of summary was provided to each Committee member. It was noted that there were no new members and no additional year buy backs. d. A motion to accept the reviews was made by Thomas Quinley, seconded by Joseph Kochanski. Approved e. Karen Mankowski also noted that Frank Mankowski also purchased one (1) year of military buy-back time. The Honorable Discharge and Department of Defense DD214 was reviewed and found to be acceptable by Thomas Dawkins. A motion to accept buy- back was made by Thomas Dawkins, seconded by Thomas Quinley. Approved. f. Karen Mankowski reviewed the status of the four (4) Occum Firefighters whose Relief Fund Time and payments where in question due to Occum’s administrative errors from January 2000 to January 2007. Roland Lambert, John Jakubowski and Roland McKeon were active Occum firefighters and qualified for the 2000 buy-back increase per the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Ordinance. Carmen Coletti qualified for the 2006 buy-back, increasing his Years of Service to 30. All pertinent information was provided to Joshua Pothier for correction and retroactive payments. The Comptroller’s Office prepared a spreadsheet for each of the affected individuals so that their time and payments could be reviewed and calculated. 1. Roland Lambert, John Jakubowski and Roland McKeon are each owed $5,160 in retroactive payments. 2. Carmen Coletti is owed $1,050 in retroactive payments. 3. Total retroactive funds being paid to Occum Firefighters, $16,530. Thomas Dawkins made a motion to accept Karen Mankowski’s explanation of error and that the calculations were in order and that the payments should commence. Seconded by Donald Leary, approved. g. Karen Mankowski stated that Occum firefighter Edward M. Smith is requesting to withdraw his one (1) year contribution in the amount of $120. Thomas Quinley noted that Edward M. Smith does not appear on the Occum Relief Fund participation roster. Based on that finding the request was table pending further investigation. h. Thomas Quinley presented two new Yantic members for Relief Fund participation. Joseph Welch (Mr. Welch’s paperwork has been provided to Thomas Dawkins,  Personnel Director) and Christopher May (Mr. May’s paperwork will be provided at the next meeting). Mr. Quinley also reviewed Peter Cuprak’s status with the Committee. Mr. Cuprak will be collecting for twenty (20) years service as of January 2007. Mr. Quinley asked the Assistant Comptroller, Mr. Pothier, for verification of retroactive payment for Mr. Cuprak. Mr. Pothier noted that Mr. Cuprak was set for payment. A motion made by Donald Leary to accept Yantic’s members, seconded by Joseph Kochanski. Approved. 6. New Business a. Mr. Benoit noted that a special meeting would be held to discuss the investment options that the Committee would like to begin pursuing with North Pointe and the specific allocation of funds from CDs to the American Fund Plans. Members should be on the lookout for a meeting notice. b. Mr. Quinley asked Mr. Pothier if he was clear regarding all members who currently receive payments and are increasing their Years of Service by one for 2006 participation. Mr. Pothier confirmed that he was set for the members increasing their Years of Service for 2006 participation. c. Mr. Benoit stated that Mr. Crooks requested that we remove him from the Committee’s email list. d. The Committee confirmed with Red McKeon that his request for buy-back had been denied and Mr. McKeon confirmed that the denial was understood. e. Mr. Quinley asked if there was any new information regarding Citizen Appointees to the Committee. Red McKeon stated that two (2) new people were expected to be approved by the Council at their next meeting. f. Karen Mankowski stated that she would provide a new revised Occum report reflecting Edward Smith. Next regularly scheduled meeting to be held May 14, 2007. Motion made to adjourn by Thomas Quinley, seconded by Donald Leary. Meeting adjourned 1736, Respectfully Submitted, Thomas G. Quinley March 5, 2007