Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees met Dec. 14

Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees met Dec. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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.

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 Claudia McInnis (Director of Finance and Administration), Dalia “Dolly” De La Cruz (Director of Member Services), Andrea Sharayha (Director of Human Resources), and Adam E. Smith (General Counsel).

The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 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 Nick Salem expressed appreciation to the Board and Fund staff for organizing an enjoyable Retirees’ holiday luncheon on December 2, 2021.

The Chair introduced to the Board the newly hired employee, Daniella Machado Strubinger, who is assigned at the Front Desk.

The Chair called for a vote of the elected members of the Board on the Citizen Member position. There was a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by David Riegor, to re-appoint Lisa R. Slagle to the citizen member position on the Board of Trustees for a two-year term effective January 1, 2022. The motion carried.

There was a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by Stephen R. Whitehead, to approve the following items listed on the Consent Agenda:

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

B. Approval of the report of the Memorial Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

C. Approval of the report of the Pension Benefits Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

D. Approval of the report of the Budget and Audit Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

E. Approval of the minutes of the Personnel and Procedures Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

F. Approval of the minutes of the Investment Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The motion carried.

The Director of Finance and Administration reviewed the Fund’s consolidated financials and highlights for the first quarter fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, noting the Plan’s Net Position at approximately $5.284 billion.

The Board discussed the policy regarding re-entry into the Fund. After a preliminary discussion, the Chair announced that the Board was going into closed session pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.071.

The Board went into closed session at 10:19 a.m. and resumed open session at 10:33 a.m.

There was a motion by David Riegor, seconded by Gerard L. Daniels, to construe section 8.09 of the Pension Benefits Policies as only applicable to individuals who apply for a disability benefit on or after October 19, 2021. The Chair took a record vote and the motion failed with Mays, Riegor, Ng, and Daniels voting in favor of the motion and Rasheed, Slagle, Wotring, Lantrip, and Whitehead voting against the motion.

The General Counsel discussed the proposed memorial bench policies as amended in the Memorial Committee meeting. There was a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by Arif Rasheed, to approve the recommendation from the Memorial Committee regarding the proposed memorial bench policies. The motion carried.

The Chair explained the need to revise the policy regarding re-examination of disability recipients.

There was a motion by Lisa R. Slagle, seconded by Albertino “Al” Mays, to approve the presented change to the policy regarding random re-examination of disability recipients. The motion carried.

The Chair provided an update on the Executive Director search and reminded the Board that a Special Board meeting has been scheduled for the Board to interview candidates chosen by the Executive Search Committee.

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.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. on a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by Stephen R. Whitehead. The motion carried.

https://www.hfrrf.org/files/lists/6936/Minutes%20Board%20December%2014,%202021.pdf