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Abridged Report with Attachments
ABRIDGED REPORT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
NEW JERSEY STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION
WALL TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY
FEBRUARY 22, 2025
The meeting was called to order by President Ordway at 9:00am, in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. He stated that the notice of this meeting was posted on the New Jersey State Firemen’s website as required pursuant to the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act (Chapter 231, P.L. 1975). The fire exits were pointed out.
Vice President Hankins led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Second Assistant Secretary gave the opening prayer.
President Ordway asked Counsel Cavallo to administer the oath of office to Executive Committeeman Mecsey.
ROLL CALL:
Roll call was held with all officers and Executive Committee members present except for Executive Committeeman Spiegel who was participating via Zoom.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Secretary Pelaia said there was no current communications other than those in your packet. A motion was made by Executive Committeeman Kelly to accept the correspondence submitted, seconded by Executive Committeeman Kurdyla. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The Abridged Minutes and Verbatim Minutes of the November 23, 2024, Executive Committee Meeting were approved as distributed on a motion by Executive Committeeman Handlin, seconded by Executive Committeeman Scheuer. Motion carried.
OFFICERS REPORT:
Vice President Hankins reported the following:
- He thanked the Executives for submitting their Caucus Dates and Locations. He will be sending out to the Executives, the work schedule withing a few weeks.
Secretary Pelaia Reported the following:
1) He stated that he has been assisting the staff with the Active Membership reports that have been submitted so far. He reminded everyone that the Active Membership Reports are due in the office or postmarked by February 28, which is this coming Friday. Of the Active Membership Reports already submitted, 10% had to be returned due to mistakes, mostly because the secretaries did not read the instructions. President Ordway then added that the following list of Counties that will have an election this year for Firemen’s Home Manager: Atlantic, Bergen, Gloucester, Ocean and Sussex. There is still a vacancy for Salem County. Secretary Pelaia then spoke on a new, different badge for Delegates and Life Members. It is a smaller badge with a different medal along with one color ribbon for both Delegate and Life Member. Should the Executive Committee approve this badge we will then receive bids for the price of the badges.
First Assistant Secretary Martone reported the following: He sent out a flyer to all Executives
Regarding the “Know your Line Number” which was discussed at the last Executive Committee meeting. He sent the flyer to all Associations and all the officers in those Associations.
Second Assistant Secretary Dreby’s Report: He received the contract from the videographer for the Memorial Service this year. He approved the contract.
Treasurer Mullen’s Report: His report is in the packet. He stated that the Finance Committee’s report was not completed at this time. He will forward it to the Executive Committee
Field Examiner Hollingsworth’s Report: The written report is in the packets. She stated that she is sending letters to those Associations, both by E-Mail and Regular. She stated that for some of the E-mails sent out, some were sent back due to wrong e-mail addresses. She contacted those Associations and corrected those E-Mails. She then mentioned that she will be asking later in the meeting to remove some of the Associations under review at the request of their Executive Committeeman.
Counsel Cavallo’s Report: No report.
Assistant Counsel Morris: No report
President Ordway’s Report: He had no written report but reported the following:
1) The office will be closed on April 18 for Good Friday.
2) There are about 8 Financial Reports that have not been received in the office yet. He stated that he checked the Postal routing numbers on these Association’s mailing, and they are in the postal system, so he expects them any day.
3) Membership Reports are due on February 28, 2025. There are 165 still not received. He asked the Executives to follow up with their Associations Membership Reports that have not been received. He stated that once all the Membership Reports received , we will review the reports and those members who have 5 consecutive years of 0% will be removed from the rolls.
We will double check to make sure that if there are certain circumstances such as Military Leave and the member has 5 years of 0%, they will not be removed.
4) President Ordway stressed to everyone that they should tell their Association Officers not
to procrastinate when doing reports. Should they have questions regarding the report they should call our office for assistance.
5) First Quarter Relief Report is due by April 30, and the Convention Delegate Report is due May 1st. and must be done online.
6) He reminded everyone that sometimes the field has issues filling out forms online. He asked if anyone has a problem, please notify the State Office immediately, so they can complete the report prior to the due date.
7) The Caucuses and Field Exams are now scheduled. There is also a County Workshop that is scheduled for Gloucester County. Should any Executive want a workshop please notify President Ordway.
8) The 2025 Convention will be held on September 12-13. He felt that the workshop at the convention was poorly attended for what it cost. He would like to return to the county workshops, anticipating that going forward, we will do 10 workshops one year and 11 the following year. In the future, he would like to have one workshop for secretaries and another for treasurers.
9) Field Examination dates and locations are all set. Any association who cannot make
their Field Exam must notify the Field Examiner ahead of that night.
10) He reminded all Executives that Caucuses, Workshops and Field Exams must be conducted at an ADA Compliant facility.
11) He reminded everyone that if they receive an e-mail from him to please make sure that it is from him. There are a lot of scams out there and someone has been sending e-mails in his name.
12) Also, we will once again be removing any member who has five consecutive 0% runs and drills reported on their Active Membership Reports. Every local officer who has a member affected will receive a letter from the office. Should the secretary have someone who was on Military Leave or another significant reason for not making the five years, they can call the office.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ADVISORY/ SPECIAL / SUPPLEMENTAL COMMITTEE: Executive Committeeman Walker stated that there is a report in the packet. Executive Committeeman Kurdyla asked since we receive
in the report it lists how many applications and there are no numbers of how many were rejected. Chairman Walker responded that he would put that number in his future reports.
COMPENDIUM COMMITTEE: (a)Chairman Roemmich reported that the committee met on January 14, 2025. It was discussed and approved that the Burial Benefit be increased by $400.00 and forwarded to the Executive Committee for approval. The committee also agreed that a copy of the funeral bill must be submitted with the claim. If the funeral bill goes directly to the Surviving Spouse or the IRS Dependent Children full base payment of $12,400.00 will be paid. It was determined that in all other cases we will no longer pay any excess to anyone other than the Spouse or IRS Dependent Children.
(b)There was some discussion regarding whether some credit towards Qualification be given (such as duty nights} in the Firehouse. It was determined that this is a Local Association issue. If it is done it must be done equally among the members of the Local Association.
DELEGATE AND LIFE MEMBER COMMITTEE: Executive Committeeman Florio said that the committee has prepared a report for this meeting, and it is in the packets. President Ordway stated that all the Executives should review the report and submit any comments to Chairman Florio prior to the next Executive Meeting whereby a vote will be taken.
FINANCE COMMITTEE: Treasurer Mullen reported that the Finance Committee met, and that one member was absent, so he sent the findings to that member and is waiting for his recommendations, then the complete report was sent to the Local Association.
FIREMEN’S HOME COMMITTEE: Chairman Otterbein submitted his report is in everyone’s packet and reported the following:
1) The Firemen’s Home has engaged KDA Architects to provide a Conceptual Design evaluation for a proposed building expansion for a cost of $18,000. The Home reports that they would need 39 additional rooms to go to single occupancy. 2) The home is still studying the change in the Application to the home whereby presently the requirement is now 1 year in the Fire Service and they are discussing changing that to 84 months In the Fire Service.
HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE: Chairman Reeves stated that he has a report in the packet.
Investment Committee: Chairman Handlin said there is no Report.
LEGISLATIVE: First Assistant Secretary Martone reported that his report is in the packets. He stated that he will be having a Zoom meeting with the Committee sometime in the Spring. He also mentioned that Ocean County Jeff Baer passed away.
LONG RANGE PLANNING and REVIEW COMMITTEE: Chairman Lane reported that his report is in the packets. He stated that the Committee will continue to meet.
FIRE SAFETY COMMISSION – Chairman Naylis reported that (1) The Governor signed the amended Fire Safety Act. On February 3, 2025. The changes include (a) Fire inspectors and Fire Officials are now licensed and are no longer certified. (b) The Fire Extinguishers in Residential occupancies have been repealed. (c) Only licensed Fire Inspectors and Fire Officials can conduct Fire code Enforcement, (d) There is now labeling requirement labels on Electric Panels if there is alternate electric service in a building.
APPLICATIONS – Secretary Pelaia – (a)reported that we are still awaiting paperwork from Frelinghuysen. President Ordway also mentioned we are awaiting paperwork for Stockton and Delaware on their consolidation. (b) Executive Committeeman Smith then made a motion to reinstate Helmetta. He said that he has been in touch with their President, and they have all new officers, Representatives and trustees, they will be reinstated and kept under review. This was seconded by Executive Committeeman Florio. On a voice vote the motion was passed 21-0
(c) Field Examiner Hollingsworth requests that the following Associations be removed from Review: Bass River and Bergenfield, and Asbury Park be placed back into accord. The Executives for these Associations have been monitoring and recommended that Bass River and Bergenfield be removed from Review and Asbury be placed back into accord and put under review. A motion was made by Executive Committeeman Kelly, seconded by Executive Committeeman Otterbein to remove Bass River and Bergenfield from review, and Asbury Park placed back in accord, but put into review.be on a voice vote passed 21-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
1) Executive Committeeman Lane thanked President Ordway, Vice President Hankins, First Assistant Secretary Martone and Field Examiner Hollingsworth for attending his attended his workshop. There were 90 people that attended, and he heard nothing but accolades from those members that attended. Executive Committeeman Naylis also thanked the Officers who attended his workshop. The attendees at his Workshop were overwhelmingly positive. Executive Committeeman Naylis then urged the other Executives to have a Workshop in their County.
2) President Ordway said that we have one association, Helmetta, that did not submit their Financial Standing Report. He double checked and realized that they hadn’t started it yet. Executive Committeeman Reeves made a motion, seconded by Executive Committeeman Florio, to place Helmetta FRA#152 Out of Accord. Passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made at 9:37am by Executive Committeeman Otterbein, seconded by Executive Committeeman Lane, that we move to Executive Session.
Passed.
At 9:53am, a motion by Executive Committeeman Florio, seconded by Executive Committeeman Kelly that we move back to open session. Passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
- President Ordway stated that the first thing under new business is changes to the Compendium Article 6, Burial Claims. He stated that he sent out a 2-page list of changes, completely changing the Burial Claims Section. Basically, the Burial Claim will be paid to either the Funeral Home or to ever paid the Bill. If there is a balance left over after the bill is paid, the only people that can receive it is the spouse, IRS – designated children, or dependent children, and no one else. There were several questions raised, and it was explained that we are going back to the original purpose of the Burial Benefit. A motion was made by Executive Committeeman Naylis, seconded by Executive Committeeman Figueroa. Executive Committeeman Roemmich asked if this had to be voted on by the complete membership and President Ordway responded that it did not. Executive Committeeman Roemmich then made a motion, seconded by Executive Committeeman Lane to table this motion until the next meeting so that this change can be reviewed in the minutes and voted on at the May Executive meeting. A roll call vote was taken, and it was passed 16-5.
- President Ordway then brought forward to increase the Burial Benefit from $12,000.00 to $12,400.00 . Executive Committeeman Roemmich made a motion seconded by Executive Committeeman Smith, to increase the Burial benefit to $12,400, an increase of $400.00. On a Roll Call vote , Passed 21-0
- There was discussion about moving the date of the September Executive Committee meeting from September 11, so that Executive Committee members can attend September 11, services. A motion was made by Executive Committeeman Roemmich, seconded by Executive Committeeman Scheuer , to move the September Executive Committee meeting from Thursday September 11 in Wildwood, to Saturday September 6 at the State Passed 21-0.
- The Long-Range Planning and Programs Review recommends a permanent stoppage of receiving applications for Spouses in general, and for stoppage of receiving Applications for firefighters in assisted living. A motion to freeze receiving applications for assisted living applications in the Health Care program was made by Executive Committeeman Reeves, seconded by Executive Committeeman Roemmich. On a voice vote Passed 21-0
- A motion was made by Executive Committeeman Scheuer, seconded by Executive Committeeman Otterbein rather than having 2 badges distributed at the Convention (Delegate and Life Member) we should have only 1 generic badge, for attendees at the Convention. On a voice vote Passed 21-0
- President Ordway then questioned rather than bringing back and forth Associations that are on review, whereby we are voting to put them on Review, then taking them off Review. He questioned is that something that can be done internally by the Officers. An example is if an Association is put on review and their Executive Committeeman cannot make an Executive Committee Meeting, the Association would have to wait approximately another 3 months to be removed from being taken off Review. There was some discussion regarding this, and the Executive Committeeman would make the recommendation and forward it to the State the Field Examiner whereby the Officers will review it at their Officers meeting and then notify you of their response. A motion was made by Executive Committeeman Kelly seconded by Executive Committeeman Florio to approve the President’s recommendation.
On a voice vote Passed 21-0
7) Executive Committeeman Naylis made a motion that the Officers be allowed to consider
non-seating or penalizing Local Associations that fail to comply with filing reports. Seconded by Executive Committeeman Walker. On a voice vote Passed 21-0
PUBLIC COMMENT: Daniel Smith of Chatham Borough commented that the Burial Benefit
increased by 3% this year. He stated that it be an annual increase so that we do not have to come back each year and ask for an increase. President Ordway responded that we are now asking for the Funeral Bill when a Burial Claim is received, and we will use that to assist us in increasing the Burial Benefit in the future.
Jack Cunic, Secretary of Denville spoke on having all forms available to be submitted
on-line. He stated that doing this will expedite Applications and other forms be processed quickly.
GOOD OF THE ORDER:
Secretary Pelaia announced that he will not be running for reelection in September. He will continue finish his term with his last date being September 30. He stated it was not an easy decision to make. Although he had 2 surgeries on his foot, he is in good health. After 45 years being involved in this Association as a member of the Legislative Committee, Executive Committee, and an Officer, He feels that it is time to take life easier. He thanked everyone for their support.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tom Pelaia
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