RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF KERN COUNTY

MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING

February 8, 2005

President, Norman Briggs, called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m.

ROLL CALL: Jeanne Berkshire, Norman Briggs, Nettie Collins, John DeMario, Opal Hargis, Lois Maujer, Ginger Mello, David Merritt, Earlene Smith and Walter Stewart

OTHERS PRESENT: Wanda Castro, Belva Jared, Everett Julkowski and Blue O’Connor

MOTION by Lois Maujer to approve the January Minutes as read, seconded by David Merritt and CARRIED.

Treasurer, John DeMario, presented the Proposed 2005 Budget. After thoroughly discussing the budget, MOTION by David Merritt to accept the budget as read, seconded by Walter Stewart and CARRIED. After a discussion of where the Decorations reimbursements should go; it was decided that it should be a separate line item under program setup. Treasurer, John DeMario, stated that this would be an item that you will see changed on the budget next month. Treasurer, John DeMario read the Treasurer’s Report for the month of January. MOTION by Jeanne Berkshire to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of January, seconded by David Merritt and CARRIED. MOTION by David Merritt to approve the Claims Payable for January, seconded by Jeanne Berkshire and CARRIED. Everett Julkowski requested 40 copies of the TREND to take to CRCEA Spring Conference.

CRCEA – Everett Julkowski announced that, first and foremost, there is a movement afoot to change from a Defined Benefit Plan to Defined Contribution Benefits. This will not hurt the current retirees but it will affect the future retirees. It is called Assembly Constitutional Amendment #5. This Amendment is that Defined Benefit Plan, which we have now, defines eventual pension benefits in the law are based on number of years worked, final salary and age base factor. Defined Benefit Plan is a risk on the employer and not on the employee. The Defined Contribution Plan is a total risk to the employee because the benefit is not defined in law only the contribution. Because of the difference, the employee is only guaranteed the amount of money that is in the account at retirement. In conjunction with that, there is a Southern California Assemblyman by the name of Keith Richman who is proposing a bill to amend the constitution to prohibit any public agency in California from offering a Defined Benefit Plan. This topic will be discussed for a half day at the Spring Conference and it looks like CRCEA is going to try to beat this bill. It is getting National recognition because California has the largest pension plan in PERS. Everett announced for all of those who have received their packets for the conference knows that there was not an agenda for the conference in the packet. Everett does not know what is on the agenda. Everett stated that if he gets information of what is going to be on the agenda in time to go into the TREND; he will e-mail it to Vicki, if not he will bring it to our next meeting.

CCAPE – Last month no meeting because of installation of officers.

HOST/HOSTESS PROGRAM – Mary Lou Bennett was not in attendance at the meeting. Blue O’Connor announced that he has volunteered to work at the Information Desk at the County Administration Building all day on the last day to pay property taxes.

MONTHLY PROGRAM – The speaker today will be from Habitat for Humanity.

NEWSLETTER – Articles for the TREND are due in by February 15^th.

KCERA – Wanda Castro announced that the new actuarial firm has been hired. They are having lots of meetings with the staff and they are asking for a lot of materials. Wanda reported that there were 22 new retirees in January with most of them from December and there will be about 80 new retirees in February. They are estimating 250 new retirees in the first quarter. All of these new retirees are because of the 3% at 60. This number compares to 190 retirees in all of 2004. President, Norman Briggs, reminded Wanda that she has a column in the TREND and should give some of the stats like those above.

COMMUNICATIONS – President, Norman Briggs, received in the mail 2 Bakersfield Homeless Center Newsletters, 5 County Newsletters, 1 Newsletter from the Braille Institute of America, 1 Bakersfield Rescue Mission and 1 CRCEA Conference Registration Packet. These were at the downtown post office box. He also received at home his CRCEA Packet and Christmas Cards from Sweeney, Davidian & Greene LLP and Steve Pettee and Pacific Group Agencies. President, Norman Briggs, also read a letter from Coordinated County Employee Organizations of Kern, which consists of CCAPE, KLEA, KCSCA, KCFF, KCPA AND REOKC. This is all the unions and REOKC which meet as the PR Committee.

STATUS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE – There is a meeting scheduled at T. L. Maxwell’s for January 16^th and it is being hosted by KCFF Union 1301. President, Norman Briggs, shared the letter mentioned in Communication above from the Coordinated County Employee Organizations of Kern. This letter was sent to each of the Board of Supervisors after the groups had met with them individually regarding health insurance.

WEB PAGE –There has been over 2,000 hits on the Web Page.

PAC UPDATE – It is not on the back burner but other issues have been taking priority.

RENTAL OF OFFICE SPACE – Everett Julkowski has resumed looking for an office space. Before Everett would speak to a broker or owner he needs some information. Information needed would be how much square footage and how divided up (or 1 room). President, Norman Briggs, would like a projection of fees that would be needed. John DeMario stated that we need to find what our needs are and a way to RAISE our dues. As Treasurer, John sees a minimum of a raise of $1.00 and possibly $2.00 to be able to cover the cost of office space. President, Norman Briggs, appointed Everett Julkowski and Walter Stewart to work as a committee to come up with an analysis of what the office is going to do and this will reflect on what will be needed for the office space.

FEE INCREASE – President, Norman Briggs announced that on December 5^th, he sent a letter to each of the Board of Supervisors requesting a fee waiver proposed by the Parks Department. On January 24^th, he contacted Bill Wilbanks and asked if Bill could let him know what is happening. On January 24^th, Bill Wilbanks contacted Norm and told him that no action has been taken by the Board yet. On January 25^th, Bill Wilbanks informed Norm that the Parks Department is taking the revised recommendation to the Board on February 15, 2005.

COMPUTER GIVE AWAY – There are 2 computers ready to be given away today to those who purchase a $1.00 ticket for the drawing.

NEW BUSINESS: John DeMario announced that he is starting to train Mary Lou Bennett for the position of Treasurer. John will be putting the software on her new computer. John is going to work Mary Lou through February and turn it over to her for March. John will then no longer be on the Board.

MOTION by Opal Hargis to go into Executive Session, seconded by Lois Maujer and CARRIED.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Confidential

MOTION by John DeMario to reconvene as a regular meeting, seconded by David Merritt and CARRIED. MOTION by David Merritt to adjourn the regular meeting at 11:37 a.m., seconded by Jeanne Berkshire and CARRIED.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

 Ginger Mello, Secretary