The September 2021 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, Secretary Kenneth Seguin (via cell phone), Director Dale Erves, Director Joe Richtsmeier, Communications Director Carol Richtsmeier, DFR Advisor Larry Williams
Absent: Vice President Sally Lannom, Treasurer Crista Walker, Director Boux Bland
- President Elliston called the meeting to order at 11:03 am and led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- President Elliston began the General Membership meeting with announcing the names of the 13 police and firefighters who had passed away in August according to the DPFPS website.
- Police
- James Behringer, Ronnie Smith, Clarence Durst, Jimmy Holland, Kevin Huey, David Ruiz
- Fire
- Johnny Horn, Willie Galloway, Gerald Dees, T.R. Winkelvoss, Samuel Mobley, Randle Richardson, J.F. Lehew
- Director Dale Erves delivered the invocation.
- The minutes from the August 2021 meeting had been previously posted on the DPROA website. A motion was made by member Robert Gutkowski to accept the minutes as posted; seconded by member Larry Eddington. Motion carried by acclamation with none opposed.
- President Elliston referred to the President’s Brief published and distributed to the membership on September 2, 2021. It discusses the Annual Adjustment lawsuit filed on August 31 by the Feldman firm against the Dallas Police & Fire Pension System for the discontinuation of the Annual Adjustment and Benefit Supplement. The lawsuit was filed in the 192nd Judicial District Court of Dallas County where Judge Kristina Williams is the presiding judge. The DPFPS has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
- President Elliston advised that it had been suggested to the Executive Board that it consider an official endorsement of former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman in her bid for Texas Attorney General.
- It was noted that the primary elections for the Texas Attorney General race will not be held until May 2022 with the general election to be held in November 2022. Current declared candidates are incumbent Ken Paxton (R), George P. Bush (R), Eva M. Guzman (R), Joe Jaworski (D), and Lee Merritt (D).
- Discussion and consensus of the board was to delay further consideration of and involvement in this matter until after the primary elections are held.
- President Elliston mentioned that he had been contacted by Steve Gervasio of the FOP, and received a flyer regarding Aetna Medicare Advantage plan being available. The board discussed and agreed it would be permissible to post the flyer on the DPROA website with a notice to the membership that it was for informational purposes only and such posting did not constitute an endorsement. President Elliston will forward the flyer to Mrs Richtsmeier for posting.
- President Elliston stated there were no pension related items in the latest monthly report from the Ratliff Company on the second session. Governor Abbott is expected to call for a third session to address redistricting.
- President Elliston advised that since no billing from the Feldman firm had been received, the monthly Treasurer’s Report was incomplete. Membership stands at 1,120 total police and fire members. Secretary Seguin reported that total funds in the bank amounted to $760,235.18.
- The DPD Retirees picnic is scheduled for Saturday, October 2, 2021 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) at Hogg City Park in Quitman, TX. Coordinators Karen Graham [email protected] and Ruth Wright [email protected] can be contacted. The meals donation is $10 per person in the tip jar. Their telephone numbers are 972-415-2723 (Karen) and 903-878-2945 (Ruth).
- The next General Membership meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2021.
- President Elliston reported that he had not heard any additional information from Randy Doubrava, the General Counsel for TMPA, regarding city ordinances and state statutes constituting “unilateral contracts.” At this juncture, since the statute of limitations expired on September 1, 2021, the issue of a possible lawsuit from that perspective is moot.
- Based on a member’s question, President Elliston explained why no appeal of Judge Tom Sulak’s decision on the plea to jurisdiction involving the Texas Pension Review Board was made. Such an appeal would have taken another one to two years and it was considered more productive to file the Dallas County lawsuit against DPFPS.
- There was discussion by the membership of the perception that younger, active officers are content with current salaries and are not concerned with lack of Annual Adjustment or Benefit Supplement in the future when they are drawing their pensions and there is no cost of living allowance to hedge against inflation.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:34 am.
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Kenneth E. Seguin
Secretary