Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Thursday April 12, 2007.
Present: President, Bruce Myers; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Bette George;
and Harold Dozier.
Staff: Manager, Michael Alburn.
It was moved by Bette George, seconded by Harold Dozier and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the March meeting be approved as mailed.
Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried that the March Bills be approved and ordered paid. See: Board Order to Disburse funds No. 19, Exhibit I.
It was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried that the April Payroll be approved and ordered paid. See: Board Order to Disburse funds No. 20, Exhibit II.
None.
Safety Committee Report has identified a concern regarding the prompt correction of minor safety issues. A mechanism has been put in place that will allow for corrections and reporting of such in a prompt manner.
The District is looking to change respirators in order to have one vendor able to provide all varieties of filter. It is likely we will go with an established company such as 3M to avoid having problems filling replacement cartridge orders.
Herbicide treatments continue despite wind being an issue on a daily basis.
Zone work – training is ongoing. With temperatures down the crew has had plenty of time to get around to look at potential breeding sites.
Fish plants occurring daily to build up a reserve in the field. Each Technician is responsible for planting at a minimum, 1 dozen per day.
We have hired four VC Tech I’s and have two more coming; 1 Fresno St. pre-dental (May) and 1 UC SD general studies (June).
Bar-be-que was a hit. Many thanks from the crew.
The World Ag Expo for 2008 requires a $1,400 deposit by May 31st; $1,300 offset by other South San Joaquin Valley districts. Will check at next regional meeting to be sure they are going to participate once again before recommendation in May.
School presentations, public outreach and AMCA education day information was discussed (See Exhibit III).
A company picnic at the Visalia Oaks game was discussed with the Manager being told to see how many people would be interested in attending. Report back next meeting.
Wages/ Benefits
Initiated paying the V.C. Tech I’s every two weeks. This way they don’t have to wait so long for a payday.
Expecting a good sized carryover in the Tech I category and the Unemployment line item. (Approx. $35,000)
Overall category is in good shape.
Services and Supplies
Spray Materials will carryover approximately $ 134,000.
Auto Supplies will finish up with a carryover as well.
Gasoline will likely have an ending balance.
Over on Travel – Florida and San Diego.
Overall savings should be in the neighborhood of $140,000
Building Improvements
Plumbing repair is completed, no additional costs.
Capital Items
Spending complete as per identified items. Manager requested permission to spend approximately $1,000 for a projector to be used with power point presentations. One coming in May with a service group that requires us to get a projector.
Ending balance would be around $2,900. It was moved by Bette George, seconded by Harold Dozier and unanimously carried to approve the purchase.
Contingencies will end with $50,000.
Our overall expectation is that spending will be held down so that predicted revenue will be matched and unanticipated revenue will bolster reserves for the coming year.
Carryover approximately $222,000 (See Exhibit IV).
AB 2544 was passed last year and will affect contracting agency employers who use the unequal contribution method for health care premiums payments for retirees.
Previously, employers would increase the annual contribution for health care by 5% of the contribution for actives. So in 2007 we are paying $12.30 per month of a contribution set at $80.80. In 2008, we will set the contribution at $97 for actives, of which the retiree premium will be $12.30 + $4.85 = $17.15/ month. With five retirees, the premium will be $85.75/ month in total for retirees.
Under AB 2544, the requirement is to increase the total monthly health care contribution to equal an amount not less than the number of years the agency has been in the program, multiplied by 5 percent of the current contribution for employees, until that contribution for retirees equals the employer contribution for employees. We began in Jan. 2003. So, in Jan 2008 our employer contribution for employees will be $97. Five percent of $97 = $4.85. X 5 (yrs in prog.) = $24.20. With five retirees, the premium will be $121.00/ month in total for retirees.
The difference is $35.25 / month in increased premium for 2008, ($423 annually).
This is supposed to get the retiree at the employee per month premium contribution in a 20-year period. So long as we are able to continue to use $97 as our Employer Contribution rate, we will be fine for a few years. If we have to use the entire premium as the basis, we will have to move from the program to something else and decide at that time if we are going to provide for retiree health care. We should hear in late May with what the details are, as we will receive a valuation from PERS at that time. Premium for the 2008 year will be set by PERS in June. The Manager will bring this back to the Board in June.
The Manager requested permission to travel for committee meetings to the MVCAC Quarterly Board meeting. It was moved by Bette George, seconded by Harold Dozier and unanimously carried to approve the travel of the Manager.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Board Minutes approved on May 9, 2007.
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Michael W. Alburn, Recording Secretary