Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee

City of Norwich Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee Minutes Special Meeting, March 8, 2010 The Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee held a special meeting on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. in room 209, City Hall, Norwich, Connecticut 1. Roll Call a. Members Present: Richard Benoit, Taftville Karen Mankowski, Occum Joshua Pothier, Assistant Comptroller Brigid Marks, City of Norwich Personnel Manager Thomas Quinley, Yantic Red McKeon, Occum/Past Chairman Donald Leary, East Great Plain b. Members Absent: Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller Brian Curtin, City Treasurer Ed Martin, Laurel Hill (Joseph Kochanski absent) Frank Davis, Citizen Appointee Richard Benoit called the meeting to order at 5:09 p.m. 2. Minutes: To be reviewed at next meeting 3. Treasurer’s Report: To be reviewed at the next meeting 4. New Business – Possible revisions to the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund City Ordinance. a. Injured and Disabled Firefighters – review of draft policy. 1. Functional Capacity Evaluation / Restriction – form for Physical Assessment i. Action item – to obtain form from the Personnel Office for further review. 2. Ill or injured firefighter draft section is acceptable to use as written. No changes are necessary. 3. Causes other than fire service related injuries – i. Should the individual be evaluated for prorated service? ii. Past service review – review for the last 3 years of service of the affected firefighter. iii. Is service time discrepancy within 5% of minimum requirement to qualify for prorating? b. Joshua Pothier’s notes and questions: 1. Define Active Member – See 1.10 2. Cadet members – ages 16 and 17 years, add a formulated buyback option.  City of Norwich Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund Committee Minutes Special Meeting, March 8, 2010 3. Payment – Is payment to begin in the birth month or the month after of the qualified member? 4. January – all contributions to the VFRF must be made no later than January 31 following the qualifying year of service for all new and current retirees. 5. Mandatory direct deposit – money saving item 6. Email notification versus U.S. Postal Service for delivery of meeting notices for VFRF Board members. 7. Credited interest – City Pension currently mirrors the Market Terms versus the Relief Fund’s flat percentage rate. 8. Consider survivorship benefit - Look-up City of Norwich police, fire and personnel survivorship benefits current benefit policy versus the Relief Fund’s current policy. 9. Beneficiary benefit is currently at 90% of the member’s benefit. 10. Death benefits – pay to the member’s estate. Beneficiary look-up, all members need to complete a new Beneficiary Form for 2010. 11. Standard Annual Report – Create a standardized report form for all Volunteer Departments to use. c. 40-year potential – Actuary to run the numbers. d. $15.00 per years of service is current payment. Looking at potentially increasing to $16.00 - $18.00, with up to 35 years of service. e. Next meeting to be held on March 29, 2010. f. Military buy-back – Looking at increasing military buy-back from 3 years to 4 years. What does the current City Plan allow? g. Civil Unions – survivor benefits. A motion was made by Thomas Quinley to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Donald Leary. Approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Thomas G. Quinley Secretary