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MINUTES OF A MEETING
OF THE
FAYETTEVILLE FIRE PENSION AND RELIEF FUND BOARD
MARCH 29, 2001
A meeting of the Fayetteville Firemen Pension and Relief Fund Board was held on March 29, 2001
at 11:00 a.m. in Room 326 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street,
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
PRESENT: Mayor Coody, Marion Doss, Pete Reagan, Danny Farrar, Ronnie Wood, John Dill and
City Clerk Heather Woodruff.
MINUTES
Mr. Reagan moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Dill seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
PENSION LIST
Ms. Woodruff stated Mr. Roy Skelton had been removed. Kathy Skelton was still listed on the list.
The list would need to be amended to include his two daughters.
Mr. Reagan moved to approve the pension list with the removal of Kathy Skelton and the addition
• of Roy's two daughters. Mr. Doss seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
•
ROY SKELTON
Mr. Kit Williams, Interim City Attorney, presented a memo with his interpretation on whether or not
Ms. Skelton would be entitled to any of the pension rights (see Exhibit A attached hereto and made
a part of). He felt the law was very clear that she would not be entitled. Once she was divorced
from him, she can no longer be considered his spouse. The law was clear that when a retired member
dies, only his spouse or his children (if they were minors) could inherit the pension. In his opinion
she did not meet the definition of a spouse, therefore, she could not receive pension benefits.
Mr. Doss asked Mr. Williams to interpret what he believed to be the children's benefit.
Mr. Williams replied the statute stated that the children would receive the entire amount that he
received as long as they were full-time students up to the age of twenty-three. Once they reached
twenty-three their benefits would end. If they were full-time students they would have to provide
documentation to the Board every semester. The child would also have to certify that they were not
marred. If they were to many they would lose their benefits.
Mr. Doss stated Mr. Skelton had retired on disability at 65% of his salary. After they divorced, his
Fire Pension Minutes
March 29, 2001
Page 2
ex-wife received $417.00. The way he read the law, it looked like the 65% should go to the children.
Mr. Williams stated quoted from the statute, "if there is no eligible spouse at the time of the
members death, then the total sums shall be paid to his children." The children would receive what
the spouse would have taken. Unless, they turn nineteen or until the children have completed high
school, which ever comes first. If they enrolled in higher education then their benefit would
continue.
Mr. Reagan moved to pay (upon satisfactory proof of all the elements required by statute) the
children of Roy Skelton his pension benefits Mr. Farrar seconded the motion.
Ms. Woodruff asked if they wanted to divide the 65% in half and send each child a check.
Mr. Williams stated that when one the children became disqualified, the other would receive the full
65%. .
The motion carred unanimously.
• INVESTMENT REPORT
•
Mr. Richard Yada, Merrill Lynch, stated normally when the Fed's dropped interest rates twice in
a row the market would go up about 12% over the next twelve months. If they dropped it three times
the market would be up 21% after twelve months. There was a slowing economy and interest rates
were suppose to help that. Normally, an interest rate cut would affect the economy about nine
months later. He thought that they were about down to a normal market.
Through February the S&P was down 6%. The NASDQ was down 12%. They had sent
money back to the checking account. Approximately $35,000 in February and $35,000 in March
NCPERS
Mr. Reagan stated they had not paid their dues to the organization. They had joined the organization
m 1998. The dues were $100.
Mr. Reagan moved to join the organization again. Mr. Farrar seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned.