02 billyspanner WEBfiles.constantcontact.com/e6864159001/23aedf60-c13... · Secretary (SJR) Luis...
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Volume 25 No. 2 February 2017 visit our website at www.retiredsjpoff.org PRESIDENT'S NOTES By Mike Alford I would like to start off with a big thank you to Ed Cutter for stepping up to fill the vacancy left by the untimely passing of John Arnaz. Ed has volunteered to be the coordinator for the Annual Folsom BBQ. Thank you Ed. As an up-date on the FSLA issue, many fire retirees will notice an adjustment of your monthly check to reflect the amount of benefit minus the FSLA that was incorrectly calculated into your payment amount. We are still very involved in this issue as an Association. I have requested a list of all members who were over paid and those under paid along with a copy of the “Audit” that exposed the issue. What I have been provided by Retirement services is a list of Fire personal affected only. As yet they have not provided a list of Police personnel. The “Audit” I received from them is no more than a letter to them from the auditor stating that there was a problem. No numbers were attached rendering the document useless. The City clerk has yet to even acknowledge my request. I will continue to pursue the issue with both to obtain relevant information to assist us in resolving this issue to the benefit of our members. As far as the new measures being implemented to fix measure the “B” damage, I understand our “friend” Pete Constant has rejuvenated his irritating behavior of filing law suits to block efforts to remedy the problems caused by measure “B”. More efforts from him to muddy the waters are expected because Measure “B” was his brain child. The city, however has continued to implement the fixes and to my knowledge most if not all are completed now. The other area of concern is that there is rumbling that the monies generated by measure “F”, which was designed to raise funds for Public safety and infrastructure, have been spent even before they have been realized. In spite of the critics screaming that retirement benefits have consumed the money, Mayor Liccardo has stated that the programs the money was designated to benefit will be funded. Now with the extra expense added by the flooding, there will be clean-up costs and infrastructure concerns that will be an unexpected financial burden to the budget. There is an even greater need for fiscal prudence by the City leadership. We can only hope that they realize the gravity of their responsibility and rise to the occasion. INSIDE: • HEALTHCARE UPDATE • WORLD POLICE & FIRE GAMES
Transcript of 02 billyspanner WEBfiles.constantcontact.com/e6864159001/23aedf60-c13... · Secretary (SJR) Luis...
Volume 25No. 2February 2017
visit our website at www.retiredsjpoff.org
ASSOCIATION OFFICERSMike Alford, President [email protected]
John Shuman, VP of Police [email protected]
Ray Storms, VP of Fire 510 507-1136 [email protected]
Dale Foster, Secretary [email protected]
Larry Samarron, Jr. Treasurer [email protected]
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGEJerry Ellis, Mike Moffett, Paul Schmidt, Jerry Boyer, Pat BoydTim Miller, Walt Bugna, John Shuman, Jim Spence, Don Bartels
WIDOWS & ORPHANS OFFICERSPresident (COA) Jeremy Wise 831-566-7624VP (SJA) Larry R. Chua 408-926-2709VP (COR) Bill McCluskey 408-985-7563Secretary (SJR) Luis Chacon 408-642-0385Treasurer (SJR) Jerry Ellis 408-730-9974Treas. Emeritus (SJR) Mike Moffett 408-867-0405
POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OFFICERSPresident - David Wysuph, Vice President - Steve Windisch, Sec-Treasurer - Larry Lundberg, Sgt at arms - Bob Moir www.sjpba.net
PRESIDENT'S NOTES By Mike Alford
I would like to start off with a big thank you to Ed Cutter for stepping up to fill the vacancy left by the untimely passing of John Arnaz. Ed has volunteered to be the coordinator for the Annual Folsom BBQ. Thank you Ed.
As an up-date on the FSLA issue, many fire retirees will notice an adjustment of your monthly check to reflect the amount of benefit minus the FSLA that was incorrectly
calculated into your payment amount. We are still very involved in this issue as an Association. I have requested a list of all members who were over paid and those under paid along with a copy of the “Audit” that exposed the issue.
What I have been provided by Retirement services is a list of Fire personal affected only. As yet they have not provided a list of Police personnel. The “Audit” I received from them is no more than a letter to them from the auditor stating that there was a problem. No numbers were attached rendering the document useless. The City clerk has yet to even acknowledge my request. I will continue to pursue the issue with both to obtain relevant information to assist us in resolving this issue to the benefit of our members.
As far as the new measures being implemented to fix measure the “B” damage, I understand our “friend” Pete Constant has rejuvenated his irritating behavior of filing law suits to block efforts to remedy the problems caused by measure “B”. More efforts from him to muddy the waters are expected because Measure “B” was his brain child.
The city, however has continued to implement the fixes and to my knowledge most if not all are completed now. The other area of concern is that there is rumbling that the monies generated by measure “F”, which was designed to raise funds for Public safety and infrastructure, have been spent even before they have been realized.
In spite of the critics screaming that retirement benefits have consumed the money, Mayor Liccardo has stated that the programs the money was designated to benefit will be funded.
Now with the extra expense added by the flooding, there will be clean-up costs and infrastructure concerns that will be an unexpected financial burden to the budget. There is an even greater need for fiscal prudence by the City leadership. We can only hope that they realize the gravity of their responsibility and rise to the occasion.
INSIDE:• HEALTHCARE UPDATE • WORLD POLICE & FIRE GAMES
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENTFrancois P. DeGroen, Fire Captain, 21.49* years of service.Cliff S. Jepson, Police Officer, 30.17* years of service.Javier G. Valle, Battalion Chief, 30.28* years of service.Jeffrey Marozick, Deputy Chief of Police, 24.57* years of service.
Save money, save paper.Sign up for E-Newsletter. By signing up to receive the newsletter through e-mail, you will get the same content, only you will help the Association save money on printing and postage costs. If you wish to receive the newsletter via e-mail versus regular mail, please send an e-mail to [email protected]
HEALTH CARE BY JIM SPENCE, DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH CARE
By now you've all received your first pay check for 2007. As it is with this first check of the year, the new health care benefits premiums produced an increase for some in their net pay, others a decrease in their net pay and for some no change at all. Whenever there is a change in the amount of money a benefit costs, as retirees we tend to be anxious about the quality of the benefit. Many people working in Benefit Services, Local 230, SJPOA and other employee groups put in many hours making sure the health care benefits would have value. The major point for all of us is our level of health care services has not diminished.
For the NON-MEDICARE KAISER MEMBERS living in Santa Cruz there are several new locations to get treatment, The Watsonville and Scotts Valley offices include laboratory, pharmacy, general radiology and mammography services. Members can access specialists either in person, by phone appointments or through video visits. Hospital services and inpatient care, including labor and delivery, are being provided by Watsonville Community Hospital and at Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Santa Clara and San Jose.
The new Kaiser medical offices are located at 5615 Scotts Valley Drive in Scotts Valley; 115 Locust Street in downtown Santa Cruz; and at 1931 Main Street in Watsonville.
Appointments are available from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Urgent care is available at the Scotts Valley office, Monday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m., and on weekends, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
The face of health care coverage has changed so dramatically in the last eight years. President Trump was elected on a platform of repealing the Affordable Care Act. With that in mind we need to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. I can already hear you, I don’t workout, I am going to eat and drink whatever I want. OK, I didn’t say to stop enjoying your retirement, but there are services you have paid for but are probably not using. What?
Ok, do you have a physical every year? It’s a benefit of our health plan. This simple procedure along with a blood test can go a long way to early diagnosis of many future problems. How about walking out your front door, just walk down the street and come back home? That should take you 10 minutes. Do this three times a-day and when the doctor asks what physical activity you do, you can say you walk 30 minutes a day. Heck, you could be doing something healthy. Not bad for not working out.
Health care also includes dental care. Our dental plan is one of the best. The first thing a dentist will tell you about your teeth is not to use them as tools (ie. opening packages, crushing ice. cutting string). Also, many low level infections are directly a result of poor dental health. Most of our insurances cover a yearly check up and two teeth cleanings a year. Another preventive element you pay but probably don’t use.
Congratulations to those of you who do the things I have mentioned. Please keep it up. I hope I have caused these of you who haven’t been using your benefits to the maximum to think about doing so. By using these preventive measures we can maximize our health care benefits and hopefully not need major procedures which would slow us done from enjoying our retirement.
SAN JOSE FIRE FIGHTERS RESCUE NEARLY 300 FLOOD VICTIMSOver 14,000 San Jose residents had to be evacuated from their homes due to severe flooding of Coyote Creek. San Jose Fire Fighters successfully rescued 300 residents by boat—without any injuries. It was a remarkable performance by a well-trained, professional fire department.
Residents were left with very little warning of the oncoming flood forcing them to flee their homes with nearly no ability to gather their belongings. In too many cases, residents were stranded and needed to be rescued by boat. San Jose Fire Fighters spend over 30 hours straight in the water rescuing citizens.
There is controversy over why the City did not notify residents earlier. Finger pointing has already begun between multiple agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Mayor Sam Liccardo has stated that ultimately it is his responsibility and has pledged to do an investigation to find out what went wrong.
It is important that in the work to find out what went wrong, we acknowledge the public servants who got it right and it is important that we recognize the risks our firefighters took to rescue so many San Jose residents during this tragic event.
THE WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES COMING TO CALIFORNIA!The World Police & Fire Games is seeking our help in spreading the word. The World Police & Fire Games is an Olympic-style event open to men and women representing law enforcement, fire, prisons and border protection. Over 10,000 competitors are expected to compete in more than 60+ sports coming from 70+ countries across the world.
This year the Games are scheduled for August 7 – 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The California Police Athletic Federation, a non-profit organization established in 1967, is the governing body for both the United States Police & Fire Championships and the World Police & Fire Games. Their mission is to
promote sport and physical fitness among personnel representing law enforcement, fire, prisons, and border protection. Our Board of Directors is comprised of active duty or retired police officers. They also work with active duty or retired firefighters and law enforcement officers in the presentation of the Championships.
In addition, they have recently opened an Ambassador Program opportunity for any individuals who are signed up for the games and want to help promote them via social media. They are encouraged to share their excitement with friends and loved ones. You can get more information at www.cpaf.org.
ASSOCIATION OFFICERSMike Alford, President [email protected]
John Shuman, VP of Police [email protected]
Ray Storms, VP of Fire 510 507-1136 [email protected]
Dale Foster, Secretary [email protected]
Larry Samarron, Jr. Treasurer [email protected]
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGEJerry Ellis, Mike Moffett, Paul Schmidt, Jerry Boyer, Pat BoydTim Miller, Walt Bugna, John Shuman, Jim Spence, Don Bartels
WIDOWS & ORPHANS OFFICERSPresident (COA) Jeremy Wise 831-566-7624VP (SJA) Larry R. Chua 408-926-2709VP (COR) Bill McCluskey 408-985-7563Secretary (SJR) Luis Chacon 408-642-0385Treasurer (SJR) Jerry Ellis 408-730-9974Treas. Emeritus (SJR) Mike Moffett 408-867-0405
POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OFFICERSPresident - David Wysuph, Vice President - Steve Windisch, Sec-Treasurer - Larry Lundberg, Sgt at arms - Bob Moir www.sjpba.net
P.O. Box 28041San Jose, CA 95159-8041
visit our website:www.retiredsjpoff.org
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Volume 25No. 2February 2017
3/1 City Diner – Tan 2951 Monterey Rd., SJ – 269-54903/8 Burger Pit – Blue, 120 Blossom Hill Rd., SJ – 225-60303/9 ASSOCIATION MEETING, 11AM TO 1PM AT THE SAN JOSE P.O.A. HALL, 1151 N. 4TH ST SAN JOSE3/15 Goodies – Wine, 2201 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408-369-12363/15 Police Benevolent Association, 5pm At the San Jose P.O.A. Hall, 1151 N. 4th St San Jose3/22 Holders Country Inn. – Green, 1424b Saratoga Ave. SJ., 408-378-60223/29 Hick’ry Pit – Gray, 980 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell 408 371-24004/5 City Diner – Tan 2951 Monterey Rd., SJ – 269-5490 4/12 Burger Burger Pit – Blue, 120 Blossom Hill Rd. SJ 408-225-60304/13 ASSOCIATION MEETING, 11AM TO 1PM AT THE SAN JOSE P.O.A. HALL, 1151 N. 4TH ST SAN JOSE4/19 Goodies – Wine, 2201 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408-369-12364/19 Police Benevolent Association, 5pm At the San Jose P.O.A. Hall, 1151 N. 4th St San Jose4/26 Holders Country Inn. – Green, 1424b Saratoga Ave. SJ., 408-378-6022
CONDOLENCES John D. Arnaz, Arson Investigator, retired Dec. 7, 1995, died Dec.5, 2016. Michael R. Curcio, Fire Engineer, retired Aug. 1, 1996, died Dec. 11, 2016. Vincent A. Jangrus, Fire Captain, retired Jan. 13, 1997, died Dec. 8, 2016.
