Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees met Sept. 21

Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees met Sept. 21.

A regular meeting of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund (HFRRF) Board of Trustees convened at the Fund offices at 4225 Interwood North Parkway, Houston, Texas 77032 at 10:08 a.m.

Trustees present were Brett R. Besselman (Chair), Stephen R. Whitehead (Vice Chair), Lisa R. Slagle (Secretary), Gerard L. Daniels, Pete Ng, David Riegor, David O. Lantrip, Arif Rasheed (City Treasurer Designee), Earnest W. Wotring (Mayor’s Representative) and Albertino “Al” Mays (Citizen Member). Also present were staff members Ralph D. Marsh (Executive Director), Ajit Singh (Chief Investment Officer), Claudia McInnis (Director of Finance and Administration), Andrea Sharayha (Director of Human Resources), Dalia “Dolly” De La Cruz (Director of Member Services), and Adam E. Smith (General Counsel).

The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m.

The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a moment of silence. The Chair invited comments from the public.

Retired Fund member Tom Slagle expressed disappointment at the maintenance of the Memorial Garden.

There was a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by Gerard L. Daniels, to approve the following items listed on the Consent Agenda:

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.

B. Approval of the report of the Pension Benefits Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.

C. Approval of the minutes of the Investment Committee meeting held on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

D. Note approval by Board Chair for the Chief Investment Officer to accept three (3) nights of hotel accommodation and to speak at the Institutional Investor Regional Roundtable held in Austin, TX on September 9-10, 2021.

E. Acceptance of complimentary registration for Ajit Singh (CIO) to attend the 2021 Milken Institute Global Conference on October 17-20, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA.

The motion carried.

There was a motion by Lisa R. Slagle, seconded by David O. Lantrip, to resolve that Tuesday, December 14, 2021 be designated as the date of the regular Board meeting for the month of December 2021. The motion carried.

The Chair provided an update on the Executive Director search noting that in person interviews were held with four candidates. He stated that the search committee has chosen candidates who will return to interview with all board members.

Earnest W. Wotring entered the meeting room at 10:15 a.m.

The Chair provided an update on the hiring of a special advisor to the Fund, noting the terms of the proposed agreement. There was a motion by Stephen R. Whitehead, seconded by Albertino “Al” Mays, to hire a special advisor to the Fund. The motion carried.

After the General Counsel provided updates on the Fund’s lawsuits against the City of Houston and City officials related to Senate Bill 2190 in the 85th Texas legislature and on the declaratory judgment relating to informal marriage, the Chair announced that pursuant to Texas government code section 551.071, the Board is going into closed session to obtain the confidential advice of legal counsel.

The Board went into closed session at 10:20 a.m. and resumed open session at 10:40 a.m. The following were noted for future agenda items:

Albertino “Al” Mays requested discussion of landscaping maintenance in the Memorial Garden. Stephen R. Whitehead requested discussion of Memorial bench policies.

Lisa R. Slagle requested having a Memorial Committee meeting and a review of all the Fund’s policies and procedures.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:44 a.m. on a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by Stephen R. Whitehead. The motion carried.

https://www.hfrrf.org/files/lists/6906/Minutes%20Board%20September%2021,%202021.pdf