LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Police and Fire Pension Board approved a slate of personnel actions during its May 13 meeting, including service retirements and disability benefits for police and fire division members, while also paying respects to department members who recently passed away.

The board unanimously approved the service retirement of Officer Ronald Corbrough of the fire division and approved the service retirement of Captain Joseph Sexton of the police division, though the latter motion drew two dissenting votes. The board also authorized disability benefit applications for Jonathan Cole and John Minima to be sent to physicians for medical review.

The fund, which covers sworn members of the Lexington Fire and Police divisions, also processed several other routine matters including approvals for ghost time purchases, widow's annuity benefits for Charlene Summers, and May disbursements.

During remarks to the board, Mayor Linda Gorton offered condolences to the families of firefighters Billy Ray Morgan, who passed away April 22, and Lieutenant Robert Somers, who died April 30. Morgan served the department for 26 years beginning in 1974, primarily stationed at Engine 9 and Engine 17. Somers began his fire service career in 1966 and retired in the early 1990s.

The mayor also acknowledged the recent passing of Betty Begly, a longtime administrative professional with the fire department who served multiple fire chiefs. Begly's family has a legacy of public service, with her daughter Jennifer having recently retired from E-911 dispatch and her granddaughter Katie serving as a police officer.

The pension fund surpassed $1 billion in total assets in February, with a strong investment performance that year. The board oversees retirement benefits funded by employee and government contributions, with employees contributing 12 percent of salary and the city contributing 47.35 percent of payroll.

The board also heard presentations from investment consultants regarding a search for a new fixed income manager and reviewed quarterly financial reports. The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for the second Wednesday of the following month at 9 a.m. at the Government Center.