MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 @ 11:00 am
The December 2020 General Membership meeting of the Dallas Police Retired Officers Association took place at the Dallas Police Association, 1412 Griffin Street East, Dallas, TX 75215.
Present:
President David Elliston
Vice President Sally Lannom
Secretary Kenneth Seguin
Director Boux Bland
Director Joe Richtsmeier
Communications Director Carol Richtsmeier
DFR Advisor Larry Williams
Absent:
Treasurer Crista Walker
Director Dale Erves
President Elliston called the meeting to order at 11:04 am and led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Former Vice President Dwight Walker delivered the invocation.
The minutes from the March 2020 meeting had been previously posted on the DPROA website. A motion was made by former Vice President Walker to accept the minutes as posted; seconded by member Robert Gutkowski. Motion carried by acclamation with none opposed.
President Elliston reminded everyone of the information previously shared electronically that the US Supreme Court had declined to hear the Degan case in which DPROA was represented by attorney Kirk Pittard. This decision brings to a conclusion any further litigation in that case.
President Elliston stated that with regard to the Texas Pension Review Board case, attorney George Vie had sent an email which was then forwarded to the DPROA board members. In it, Mr Vie advised:
The Texas Supreme Court is having its last internal conference of the year today [December 8]. It will issue orders this Friday and next Friday. Therefore, if the Court had decided not to act further on the [PRB] Board’s mandamus petition, we should see orders to that effect issued on one of those two Fridays.
If the Court is interested in hearing oral argument on the mandamus, that order could also issue by December 18.) Otherwise, the next internal conference date is January 13 with orders to issue January 15.
Director Bland shared the info from the Ratliff lobbyist report for December. There were 540 bills filed on the first day and there have been about 11 pension bills submitted in the legislature but none pertain to the Dallas Police Dallas Police & Fire Pension System. Additionally, there are no rules on conduct of the upcoming nor have any committee assignment been made yet.
President Elliston reminded everyone that the 2021 dues (annually or monthly) are required as being payable no later than January 31. A letter will also go out the membership.
President Elliston discussed the situation with the DPROA PayPal account. He said many members had previously elected to use it to pay annual dues and that will show up in December and January. As a service charge, PayPal deducts about $8 of an annual dues contribution of $270 and that is lost income to DPROA. He is unable to terminate the PayPal account until 60 consecutive days occur without anyone using PayPal. Members are strongly encouraged to pay by check or pension deduction rather than PayPal.
President Elliston closely follows the monthly meetings of the Dallas Police & Fire Pension System and stated that the board of trustees is very concerned about the status of the fund as the year 2024 approaches. The board of trustees realizes the pension was not “fixed” with the passage of HB 3158.
Secretary Seguin, in his role as the Election Committee chairman, reported that with regard to the possible February 2021 board election:
He and the Committee members (Robert Yowell, Mike Martin, Michael Milligan) had met on November 17, 2020 as required by the DPROA Constitution and discussed the process as defined.
He had only received board applications from the four incumbents (Elliston, Seguin, Bland, Erves) for the positions of President, Secretary, Director Place 1 and Director Place 3 respectively.
He then called on the General Membership to see if there were any nominations from the floor. There were none.
He reported to the president that since there were no other nominations and consistent with the Constitution, no February election would be required, the four incumbents would retain their positions and they would be administered their oath of office at the March 2021 meeting.
The monthly Treasurer’s Report submitted by Treasurer Walker disclosed that total funds in the bank amount to $602,651.89
President Elliston advised that the Dallas Police & Fire Pension System had posted its agenda for the December 10 meeting and that it included a discussion of Staff’s proposal to move into a Defined Benefits Plan.
The next General Membership meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2020 at the DPA (pending further developments of the Corona Virus). Membership will be apprised if the meeting will be held.
Member Gary Grable expressed his appreciation to the board for its work.
Director Bland spoke about the BBQ event being planned by Vicky White for April 2021 in Canton, TX, for both active and retired officers.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:32 am.
Kenneth E. Seguin
Secretary