At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Fire and Police Pension Fund held on the 20th day of February 2014, President Chris Willmore presided. The meeting was held at the Pension Office, 6009 John Douglass Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
The meeting convened at 0902 hours with board members Chris Willmore, Jerome Halbert, Shawn O’Kelley, Phillip McClain, Mark Coffman, Craig Joel, Brent Goldberg and Less Lee. Attorney Bill Robinson was also present.
Motion by Craig Joel and seconded by Phillip McClain to approve the minutes from the February 6, 2014 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Lieutenant William Gaston appeared before the Board to present an application for job related disability. Mr. Gaston was given instruction on the disability review process.
Motion by Shawn O’Kelley and seconded by Mark Coffman to approve the following membership changes:
ADD TO THE ROLLS:
Fire Captain Russell E. Rymer, with 25 years of service, reduced for Joint & Survivor Option D (50%), effective 2/21/2014, participation date of 2/10/1989 (2-411)
Police Sergeant Charles R. Wells, with 25 years of service and a 4 month DROP, reduced for Joint & Survivor Option E (100% Pop-up), effective 2/22/2014, participation date of 10/21/1988 (2-411 and 2-422)
The motion carried unanimously.
The Board examined property insurance proposals for the Fund office noting that all quotes exceed the budgeted amount for property insurance. Brent Goldberg asked Frank Hamilton for his recommendation. Motion by Phillip McClain and seconded by Shawn O’Kelley to accept Mr. Hamilton’s recommendation on a property insurance policy. Motion carried unanimously.
Frank Hamilton presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Pension Task Force proposal to those in attendance. Fire Lieutenant Charles Thomason, Fire Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright, Retired Police Officer Johnny Frazier and Master Police Officer Sean O’Brien appeared before the Board to comment and express their views on the consensus of the Mayor’s Pension Task Force. Others scheduled to appear declined to address the Board.
The Board began its final review of the Pension Task Force recommendation. Attorney Bill Robinson reminded the Board that the Board will be voting on the legislation that will be presented to City Council for approval and that he had worked with attorneys representing the City to develop the legislation based on the Task Force’s recommendation. The Board recessed at 0945 for a legal discussion with Attorney Robinson. The Board reconvened at 0958 and President Willmore asked for a motion on the proposal. Motion by Phillip McClain and seconded by Craig Joel to accept the task force consensus proposal by recommending to the City Council that it adopt the legislation prepared by Attorney Robinson and attorneys for the City and presented to the Board at this meeting. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Mark Coffman addressed the audience stating that this was not an easy process and that the vote also affects the sworn members on the Board including himself, who as a non-vested participant, stands to lose the most under the proposal, but supports it as a decision that needed to be made.
Motion by Brent Goldberg and seconded by Shawn O’Kelley to pay the bills. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Brent Goldberg and seconded by Jerome Halbert to adjourn at 1003 hours. Motion carried unanimously.
Note: Received CARTA fees for January 2014.
Note: On February 19, 2014, the Board held Open Forums at 0900 and 1400 hours to discuss the Pension Task Force’s recommendations and to receive public comment and questions. These Forums were held at the Pension Office.
