Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees met March 15

Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees met March 15.

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, at 10:00 a.m.

Trustees present were Brett R. Besselman (Chair), Stephen R. Whitehead (Vice Chair), Lisa R. Slagle (Secretary), Gerard L. Daniels, David Riegor, David O. Lantrip, Arif Rasheed (City Treasurer Designee), and Albertino “Al” Mays (Citizen Member). Trustees absent were Pete Ng and Earnest W. Wotring (Mayor’s Representative). Also present were staff members Timothy Schauer (Executive Director), Ajit Singh (Chief Investment Officer), Dalia “Dolly” De La Cruz (Director of Member Services), Andrea Sharayha (Director of Human Resources), John D. Moore II (Director of Technology and Building Services), 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. No comments were received.

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, February 15, 2022.

B. Approval of the report of the Pension Benefits Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

C. Approval of the report of the Budget and Audit Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

D. Approval of the minutes of the Investment Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

The motion carried.

There was no recommendation received from the Budget and Audit Committee regarding expenses related to the Fund facilities’ landscaping.

The Executive Director explained the process involved on the sale of memorial benches which will open for sale to eligible Fund members beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 21, 2022 through 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022. This information will be communicated to Fund members.

There was a motion by Stephen R. Whitehead, seconded by Arif Rasheed, to approve the Chief Investment Officer’s travel to San Francisco, CA on April 18-20, 2022 to speak at the Pension Bridge Annual 2022 Conference with complimentary registration, two nights of hotel accommodation, roundtrip airfare up to $500.00, and ground transportation, to be paid by With Intelligence. The motion carried.

There was a motion by Lisa R. Slagle, seconded by Albertino “Al” Mays, to approve the Chief Investment Officer’s attendance at the Milken Institute 25th Global Conference, to be held on May 1 - 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA with complimentary registration to be paid by Milken Institute. The motion carried.

The Chair reviewed the proposed Risk Sharing Valuation Study for July 1, 2021 explaining various scenarios affecting members’ contribution and benefits.

Agenda item #10 regarding appeal of disability application was tabled for discussion at a future Board meeting.

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 10:24 a.m. on a motion by David O. Lantrip, seconded by Gerard L. Daniels. The motion carried.

https://www.hfrrf.org/files/lists/6995/Minutes%20Board%20March%2015,%202022%20Amended.pdf