Firefighter's Retirement Board seeks new member
The vacancy opened after the citizen member moved outside city limits.
Published Jan. 26, 2009
The Columbia City Clerk is looking for a new citizen member for the Firefighters' Retirement Board.
There is one vacancy for a two-year term that ends Dec. 31, 2010. Any applicant must be a registered voter and resident of Columbia.
Janice Finley, the Business Services Administrator of the Columbia Finance Department, was pleased with the board and its activities.
"It's a professional board that oversees policies for the firefighters' retirement fund," Finley said. "I think they're a very effective board."
The board's duties consist of establishing policies for the retirement trust fund and advising the City Council and the Finance Department about the use of the pension fund during its quarterly meetings.
The new member would be one of two citizen members on the board, which also includes two fire department members and the committee chairman, firefighter Michael Cox.
Charles Dykhouse is the other citizen member of the board.
"I was a volunteer firefighter in the past and wanted to be of service to current firefighters protecting the community," Dykhouse said. "The firefighters and the board have a good relationship as we are working for a common purpose."
City Clerk Sheela Amin said her office has not received any applications for the open position, recently vacated by John Fisher. Fisher, a financial adviser, could not return for another term because he moved outside of the city jurisdiction.
"I was interested in becoming a board member because of my vast knowledge in retirement planning and group retirement plans in general," Fisher said. "I have lived in Columbia for most of my life and I have always had a desire to give back to my community as best I can."
Richard Harris, who preceded Fisher on the board as a citizen member, said he enjoyed his experience.
"I have always had great admiration and respect for the firefighters," Harris said. "When the opportunity became available to represent the citizens of Columbia in partnership with the firefighter representatives in serving on the board, it seemed to be a good fit."
The duties of the board lead to frequent interaction with the fire department, the City Council and the Finance Department.
"The City of Columbia's Finance Department does a fantastic job, in my opinion, of working for the firefighters and helping the Retirement Board execute its role," Dykhouse said.
The board has started interacting more with the Police Retirement Board to collaborate on investment guidelines for the firefighters and police officers to follow when planning their pension fund.
"I think trying to ensure that firefighters have a safe and secure retirement after the sacrifices they make is a good and worthy pursuit," Dykhouse said. "Any citizen member with a desire to serve would do well."