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For those eligible members interest in running in the 2008 OP&F Trustee elections, completed nominating petitions, a certificate of eligibility and the candidates photo must be received by OP&F no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2008.

Eligible members of three membership groups will each elect a representative to the OP&F Board – active firefighters, active police officers and retired police officers. Currently holding these positions are Chair of the Board of Trustees Lawrence Petrick (active fire, Shaker Heights), Ed Montgomery (active police, Columbus) and the Board’s Vice Chair, William Gallagher (retired police, Cleveland).

Spring member newsletter to focus on OP&F disability benefit process
The spring edition of the Member’s Report, the quarterly newsletter for OP&F members, will feature articles explaining and outlining the process of applying for and receiving a disability retirement benefit. The articles included are aimed at educating members about the process and how checks and balances are built into the system to help ensure only qualified individuals receive a disability benefit from OP&F. The spring edition of the Member’s Report is expected to be mailed in April.

Board of Trustee Committee Notes: (Actions approved by the Board are listed separately)

The OP&F Administration/Audit Committee received an expected timeline from the firm Clark, Schaefer & Hackett for the external audit process that will begin in March. The Committee also received reports from the Internal Auditor concerning the members’ calculations audit, the work-group process study on the Pensions Contributions Group and the OP&F imaging process. The Internal Auditor also presented the Administrative/Audit Committee Annual Report which will be submitted to the Ohio Retirement Study Council. The Committee also heard an outline of the annual employee performance review and compensation process, which was again characterized as “conservative,” while still recognizing employee contributions.
In addition to the scheduled disability hearings and reviews, the Disability Committee viewed a presentation by Dr. James Lockey from the International Association of Fire Fighters Redmond Symposium. Items discussed by the Committee included the Second Half 2007 Disability Exam Satisfaction Survey, Whole Person Impairment Non-Disabling Conditions and the determination of a dependent disabling child. The Committee also discussed Ohio House Bill 431 (presumptive disability legislation), the development of OP&F member agent training and the disability benefit offset and the Annual Earnings Statement.
The OP&F Health Care Committee/Board of Trustees meeting included a review of the 4th Quarter 2007 Health Care Stabilization Fund and the status of OP&F’s Medicare Part D Subsidy. The Committee reviewed staff’s evaluation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations regarding the coordination of benefits between the sponsored retiree health care plan and Medicare. The Committee also discussed the status of issues surrounding the health care plan with representatives of UnitedHealthcare.
OP&F’s Benefits Committee examined the cost impact of paying interest on member withdrawals. Also, the Committee further discussed details of the spiking evaluation and proposal and its impact on OP&F and members.
The OP&F Finance Committee reviewed the 2007 4th Quarter Budget Transfers Report and was notified of the 4th Quarter 2007 Trustee and Staff Travel Reports. The Chief Financial Officer also briefed the Committee on current past due employers.
In addition to the monthly portfolio update, the OP&F Investment Committee/Board of Trustees discussed the 4th Quarter 2007 Performance Review, the Manager Compliance Review, the Semi-Annual Securities Lending Report and the Manager Contribution Report. The Committee/Board also received an update on the search for a Market Neutral manager.

Motions Approved:
At its February 27, 2008 meeting, the OP&F Board of Trustees passed the following motions:

Accepted staff and consultant recommendation to approve the 2008 Real Estate Investment Plan, as presented to the Board on February 26, 2008 (Investment Committee).

Accepted the rating recommendations of staff for Acadian, Causeway, Pyramis and Thornburg as outlined in Investment Staff’s memorandums to the Board dated February 26, 2008 (Investment Committee).

Approved the awards for the Initial Determination Hearings (IDH) for 19 members identified on the IDH list presented to the Board on February 26, 2008. Member #1 is postponed further review, Member #9 and #21 are postponed for re-examination and disability benefits are denied for member #6 (Disability Committee).

Approved the awards for the Disability Appeal Hearings for the six members identified on the appeals list presented to the Board on February 26, 2008. No change was made for the member identified as member #2 and #7 (Disability Committee).

Approved the determination for reconsideration hearings for the members identified (Disability Committee).

Approved the awards for the Death Benefit Fund for eligible applicants (Disability Committee).

Waived the mandatory medical evaluations and filing of annual earnings statements for future years for those disability recipients identified in the list presented to the Board on February 26, 2008 (Disability Committee).

Approved changes to Administrative Rule 742-3-20, Statutory Termination of Disability Benefits, in the form presented to the Board on February 26, 2008, and authorized such other technical revisions to the Rule as are deemed necessary and appropriate by OP&F’s General Counsel, and authorized the required filing of the Rule with the proper agencies (Disability Committee).

Supported the adoption of Ohio House Bill 433, with proposed changes in the form presented in staff’s memorandum dated February 25, 2008 (Benefits Committee).

Opposed the adoption of Ohio House Bill 479 as the bill is currently written and presented to the Board on February 26, 2008(Benefits Committee)

Adopted proposed Administrative Rule 742-9-17, Summary of Payment Remittance Information Form (Recap Form), and approves the proposed changes to Administrative Rule 742-1-10, Form of Employer Report; Failure of Employer to Submit Required Employee Deduction, and Administrative Rule 742-5-08, Service Credit Purchases by Payroll Deduction, in the form presented to the Board on February 26, 2008, and authorized such other technical revisions to the Rule as are deemed necessary and appropriate by OP&F’s General Counsel, and authorized the required filing of the Rule with the proper agencies (Finance Committee).

Accepted the 2008 30-Year Funding Plan to be submitted to the Ohio Retirement Study Council in form presented to the Board on February 26, 2008 (Finance Committee).

Authorized the Chief Financial Officer to immediately certify the past due balances due OP&F from the employers outlined in staff’s memorandum dated February 26,2 008 (Finance Committee).

Approved the travel recommendations of the Administration/Audit Committee as presented to the Board of Trustees on February 26, 2008 (Administration/Audit Committee).

Approved that UnitedHealthcare administer prescriptions as “Dispense as Written,” as recommended by the Executive Director, in order to remove the quantity limits that were established by UnitedHealthcare (Health Care Committee/Board of Trustees).