Minutes of the first meeting to organize a Hamden Fire Department retirees association:
May 11, 2009
The first meeting for the purpose of organizing an association of retired Hamden firefighters was held at Liberty Community Church, 540 Washington Avenue, North Haven on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was announced in an April 7, 2009 letter sent to all retired Hamden firefighters and signed by Mark Barletta, Tom Doherty, Ed Doiron, Jimmy Dunlop, Dave Johnson, Rich Maybury, Ralph Purificato, and Bob Viglione. A sign-in sheet was circulated that showed 22 retired Hamden firefighters attended. (A copy of the April 7 letter will be filed with these minutes.)
Bob Viglione reported that Gary Merwede, president of the Hamden Professional Firefighters Local 2687, I.A.F.F., was invited but was unable to attend this evening as he was on duty. Bob introduced Greg Bannon, the Local 2687 representative on the Retirement Board, who gave a very informative presentation on the present state of the pension plan, after which he fielded a number of questions from the retirees.
Mr. Bannon reported that as of February 2009, the pension plan has $55 million*, with an annual outlay of approximately $17.5 million distributed among 661 retirees from all town departments. The plan reached a peak of approximately $135 million in the mid to late 1990s. Prior to the recent economic downturn, it was in the mid to high $80 million range. During the past three years, the Town has contributed approximately $33 million to the plan, which is not enough to sustain the plan at its current annual rate of depletion. However, Mr. Bannon noted that retirees should not worry because, by law, the Town must pay all retirees’ pensions regardless of where the funds come from.
[*NOTE: Following the Retirement Board meeting of May 13, 2009, Mr. Bannon reported to the secretary pro-tem that the pension was now funded at $65 million.]
Mr. Bannon was optimistic that the pension plan eventually will be funded adequately, but also noted that a retirees’ organization is an excellent way to keep everyone informed should there ever be an attempt to change the pension and/or benefits. (Some of the retirees will recall the Town’s attempt in May 2002 to reduce the cost of living increase and how active and retired union reps intervened to prevent it.)
It was also noted that a retirees’ association would benefit the active firefighters because of the great amount of knowledge and experience that can be tapped at any time from among the retirees. This could be especially helpful when questions arise about how things were done in the past for which there are no available records.
Mark Barletta was selected to chair future organizational meetings, and Dave Johnson to act as secretary pro-tem.
The secretary pro-tem reported that Brian Forsyth has offered the use of the Elks Hall on School Street for future gatherings, between the hours of 4 and 11 p.m. on any Tuesday, Thursday or 1st and 3rd Monday. (A previous commitment to the Elks prevented Brian from attending tonight’s meeting.)
The consensus of those present was to accept the Elks’ offer once we formally organize and have determined a good day and time for regular meetings. In the meantime, Ralph Purificato has offered the use of his church for meetings.
The consensus of those present was that once we establish the association, we should meet monthly, except during July and August.
The next organizational meeting will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9th at the Liberty Community Church, for the purpose of further discussion on the formulation of a retirees’ association, and to select a committee that will formulate and present recommendations when a third organizational meeting is held after Labor Day.
Any retiree who is unable to attend, especially anyone who lives too far away to attend, is urged to contribute his ideas and comments to this process by contacting any of the following retirees (or any other retiree who plans to attend on June 9):
Mark Barletta – rocketboy1953@yahoo.com
Ed Doiron – 203-287-9252 – hfd-02@juno.com
Jim Dunlop – 203-481-3820 – JimmyDsignal65@sbcglobal.net
Dave Johnson – 203-288-2214 – HFDBadge102@aol.com
Bob Viglione – 203-481-7174
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
David G. Johnson
Secretary Pro-tem
Present: Bob Viglione, Ed Badamo, John Reynolds, Ed Doiron, Jim Leddy, Michael Murray, Ray Dobbs, Ralph Purificato, Dave Johnson, Carl Backus, Mark Barletta, Thomas Doherty, Joseph Yoga, Jerry Wolf, John O’Hare, Gilbert Spencer, Joe Rahl, Fred Manware, Rich Lostritto, Austin Williams, Jim Dunlop, and Richard Maybury.
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