HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 07_07/14/2005 TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEE5' PENSION
TRUST FUND .
REGULAR QUARTERLY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
MAY 10, 2005
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The Tequesta. General Employees' Pension Trust Fund Boazd of Trustees held a regular
quarterly meeting in the Emergency Operations Center (EQC) of the Tequesta. Public
Safety Facility, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on May 10, 2005. The meeting
was called to order at 10:30 a.m.: A roll ca11 was talcen by Betty Laur, Recording
Secretary. Boardmembers in attendance at the meeting were: Chair Jef� Newell,
Secretary Tom Paterno, Boazdmember Carl Hansen and Boazdmember Bob Garlo. Also
in attendance were proposed new boardmember Cazol Lux, Attorney Bonni Jensen,
Consultant Joe Bogdahn, Pension Coordinator Gwen Carlisle, and Accounting Manager
Patrice Maqueda.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Boardmember Hansen made a moti.on to approve the agenda with items A and C on
the consent agenda to be palled for discussion as requested by Boardmember
Paterno. Boardmember Garlo seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 4-
0 vote. �
III. APPRO�AL OF NEW MEMBER OF THE BOARD
MOTION
Boardmember Garlo made a motion to accept Carol Lux as new employee
representative to filt the vacancy created by the resignation of Greg Corbit� Motion
� was seconded by Boardmember Hansen and carried by unanimous 4-0 vote.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENEItAL EMI"LOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINiTrES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE 2
IV. A.PPROVAL OF MINUTES
MO_
Boardmember Hansen made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 14,
2045 meeting as submitted. Boardmember Garlo seconded the motion, which
� carried by unanimous 5-0 vote.
MOTION:
Boardmember Paterno made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 14, 2805
meeting as submitted. Boardmember Hansen seconded the motion, which carried
by unanimous 5-0 vote. :
V, pRESENTATIONS
1Vlomtor's Quarterly Report (January-March 2UQ5) - Joe Bogdahn, Monitoring
Consultant, reported the account reconciliation sta.rted with $489,000 and the ending
� value was $508,000. The account was up 4.94% after fees, and had beaten the index,
which was up 4.47%. Northstar's combined performance for the last quarter had been
minus 5%. Mr. Bogdahn reviewed other percentages and comparisons, and reported
he had provided Finance Director Forsythe with a spreadsheet and memo outlining
different custody'pieces. Boardmember Paterno commented he had previously brought
up the subject that a custodian was needed, the ather fund was using Salem Trust, and
so faz the comfort level with A. G. Edwazds was lower than the board would like. Ms.
Maqueda commented A. G. Edwards was very reluctant to talk to her and wanted to
refer her to Rockwood because the pensiori fund was not their customer, so she really
could not speak to the kind of service they would provide. Discussion ensued. Mr.
Bogdahn advised the board did not have a custody agreement with A. G. Edwazds at
this time.
Consensus of the Boazd was that a custodian was needed, either A. G. Edwazds Trust
or Salem Trust, and the board requested investigation by Mr• BoSdahn and the Finance
Department to decide which the Finance Department would be comfortable with.
Boardmember Paterno commented if it was Salem Trust, since they were custodian for
Public Safety Officers' pension fund, they might discount their fee, which might make
it easier to decide--especially if it was $1750. ,
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES ` I
TEQUESTA GENERAI.. EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND :;
REGUIIAR. QUA.RTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE 3
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS ' :
(a) Approval of payment of 55,918.56 to Public Safety Officers' Pension Fund to
reimburse their payment made in error of cantributians to Janet Lampher,
Police Dispatcher.
Pension Boazd Coordinator Cazlisle explained that in May of 2004, the Public Safety
� Officers' Pensian Boazd had paid contributions to Janet Lampher, who was a police
dispatcher, and she had actually been in the General Employees' Pension Fund, since
police support staff was in the General Fund. Ms. Maqueda explained this was
discovered through the course of tlie internal audit, so it was already established as a
liability of this board in the CAFR.
MOTION
Boardmember Hansen made a motian to approve reimbursement af $5,918.56 to
the Public Safety Officers' Pension Fund for reimbursement of payment of
contributions to Janet Lampher. Boardmember Garlo seconded the motion,
which carried by unanimous 5-0 vote.
(b} Report by Finance Department regarding answers to questions the board asked
Mr. I�oltgrieve of Rockwood in their conference call at the last meeting and
discussion of check writing procedure to pay bills
Accounting Manager Patrice Maqueda provided a handout to the board which was a
copy of the e-mail she had sent fo Rockwood Capital on March 28, 2005 requesting
items the Finance Department needed for an audit trail. Ms. Maqueda reported the
following items had not been satisfied: (4j all contributions and deposits, (6) any
interest earnings or dividends, and (7) realized and unrealized gains or lasses. The
only response to her e-mail had been information from Tony Brown of Rockwood
when he appeared unannounced in the Finance offices right after she had sent the e-
mail. He was familiaz with what they needed and why they needed it. A lot of the
information was needed in order to file the State report for the fund.
Regarding item 4, Ms. Maqueda explained that contributions and deposits were
lumped tog�ther with no detail given for this on the March statement, so she could
not verify the amount of the Village's contribution was correct. The number on the
statement included some other type of earnings. Interest earnings and dividends
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENERAI� EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND ;
REGULAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES �
May io, 2005 �
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were not cleazly refleeted. Realized and unrealized gains or losses were not reflected
at all. Ms. Maqueda reported she had been able to reconcile the March statement
down to a$3,400-$4,400 variance, which she suspected to be an unrealized toss,
because the bond fund had suffered an overall d�crease. Since she could not verify
this, it was not something she would put in writing in a report to the boazd. Ms.
Maqueda indicated the Finance Department was doing as much as possible to help
facilitate this, but unfortunately, did not have sufficient staff to devote as much time
as the board felt was necessary or would like, and she ha.d been working this into her
. regular schedule and would continue to do so.
Chair Newell expressed the boazd's appreciation, and asked if Ms. Maqueda aud
Finance Direetor Forsythe had come to any kind of consensus regarding the check
writing procedure, or if that had been settied. Ms. Maqueda reported that had not
been settled. She had gone to Independent Community Bank and asked for basic
information to shaze with the boazd. This bank offered wkat was called a Freedom
business account, for which there would be no charge if a minimum $750 balance
was maintained and there were no more than 50 debits in a statement cycle. The
boazd would have to decide how much minimum balance they would want to keep
and the mechanism—whether to have contributions go directly into that account and
then go to A. G. Fdwards Trust, or have the contributions go to A: G. Edwazds Trust
and then wire from A. G. Edwards to maintain a minimum balance. Ms. Maqueda
advised to keep in mind there was a separate Payroll Department within the Finance
umbrella and internal control mechanisms were in place, so that when the payroll
specialist cut a check to any of the garnished vendors, whether it was child support,
court item, or pension, that was hazd coded and she could not randomly change the
payee, and if every contribution went into Independent Community Bank there
would be a delay getting to A. G. Edwards and getting the money invested. The
payroll specialist could not change it and say, this month we have enough money in
Independent Community Bank so we'll send the pension contributions d'uectly to A.
G. Edwards, which would be an intemal control nightmare. :
Chair Newell expressed his opinion that the contributions needed to go directly to
Rockwood for investment and asked Joe Bogdahn when transferring money to the
checking account from the custodian, what kinds of problems and deiays would be
experienced. Boazdmember Garlo asked when the board decided on a custodian
could the custodian have a mechanism to take caze of this. Mr. Bogdahn advised the
custodian could write the check, but they had additional check charges.
Boardmember Garlo commented it would be more straightforward than the �current
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAI2 QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE 5
situation, and could be agreeable, and if so, no account would be needed at the bank.
Mr. Bogdahn explained when a bill was received, it could be signed off with one or
two signatures as required for approval and sent to the custodian for payment. 1vls.
Maqueda advised that the Public Safety Officers' pension boazd had decided to use
Salem Trust, who charged $15 per disbursement, as their custodian for the present
time. Mr. Garlo asked if that was a better way for this board to go, to which Mr.
Bogdahn responded the discussion at the Public Safety Officers' meeting was that it
would cost more money but would make it easier for the Finance Departinent,
however, it was less impact on the Public Safety Officers' fund than it would be on
the General Employees' fund because theirs was a lazger fund. Mr. Bogdahn
commented it was a decision th�s boazd needed to make keeping in mind the question
of whether the Finance Department would be willing to operate a checking account
for the fund. Mr. Bogdahn explained that if deposits were being made on the 1�` and
. 15�', and if through this process were delayed so that they were being made on the 7"'
and the 21 statistically in dollar costs averaging over time it would make no
difference to the investments. Attorney Jensen clarified that Chair Newell was
asking about bringing the funds back, and liow would it work to bring back an
amount into the bank account to cover expenses. Mr. Bogdahn responded the
Village would just make a check request to be payable to the pension fund from A.
G. Edwards Trust to be deposited in the bank account, and it would be done within
three business days. Ifit were wired, it would be received the next day. Mr.
Bogdahn stated he did not know the fee schedule for that service.
Mr. Garlo asked if as a matter of policy it was better to have the custodian do the
disbursements than the Village. Mr. Bogdahn replied the auditing firms he had
spoken to usually frowned on having a separate checking account where somebody
could write a check on behalf of the pension fund; however; Ms. Forsythe had a good
point, what was the difference in somebody writing a check or sending an
� authorization to the custodian to have them write a check.
Boazdmember Paterno indicated he felt all the checks should go to the same account
and from there be disbursed to Rockwood or come back if needed, because an
auditing trail with a set chain of command was needed. Boardmember Paterno
suggested having money come back for the checking account only once a month.
� Chair Newell commented he was comfortable with that because the money was
being put to work, even though some would be pulled back to cover expenses, but he
wanted to be sure Finance was okay with that. Ms. Maqueda responded--as long as
the board had established policies and procedures as faz as limitation, signers,
BOARD OF TRUSTEES .
TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE 6 �
frequency. Chair Newell asked who would actually make the check request. It
would have to be a decision coming from the boazd; using as an example, Sandra
was going to be leaving employment in 4-5 weeks and a payout would have to be
made to her, and would the boazd have to sit to authorize the request. Ms. Maqueda
responded she was not on the board, so could not presume to act on the board's
account without the'ir direction. Attorney Jensen advised the board would decide
who they had as authorized signers—Public Safety Officers' board only had board
members as authorized signers, but some boazds had the Pension Coordinator as an �
authorized signer along with a trustee to be allowed to make these kinds of requests
in order to run the day-to-day operations. Chair Newell confumed with Attorney
Jensen that the boazd could give authorization to signators for certain specific
requests. AtEorney Jensen advised that refunds and contributions were what lots of
boards had processed in between meetings. Chair Newell statec� he was comfortable
with that, but there were four other members of the board. Attorney Jense� advised
there were many things the board`could do, they just had to set up procedures for
them.
Boardmember Paterno commented in order to make a disbursement, the boazd had to
approve a disbursement, so he thought the board would have to make apolicy that
said when you leave or resign, within so many days before the next boazd meeting,
say 15, you must have the papers tuined in, signed, to the appropriate person so that
at the baard meeting the members could just say, yes: Anybody who-wanted their
money°should have to wait until the next board meeting. They would have to wait
for a quarterly meeting, and a policy needed to be made that their papers must be
turned in to HR at least 15 days, or 5 days, or one day before the board meeting,
whatever the board decided, but the resporisibility would be put on the employee to
. get their paperwork in to be approved. The timing was discussed. Ms. Cazlisle
noted the agenda went out at least one week before the meeting. Mr. Garlo
commented they would have to get the papers in in time to get on the agenda, or if
they did not, they would just have to wait for the next agenda. Mr. Bogdahn
suggested a deadline of fihe end of the quarter. Mr. Paterno asked if the meeting
dates were going to be changed, because that would dictate what was done regarding
this item. Discussion ensued. Mr. Newell commented the board would get to that
later.
Chair Newell asked Ms. Maqueda what she and Ms. Forsythe recommended to the .
board concerning the items 4, 6 and 7 that she was still having problems resolving.
Ms. Maqueda stated she could not reconcile the accounts because data was missing.
soax�u oF �.usTEEs
TEQUESTA GENERAI. EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGUI�A�R QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May so, 2005 �
PAGE � �
Mr. Bogdahn commented once a custodian was set up, they would take care of #4.
Regazding items 6& 7, because this was a commingled fund, just like a mutual fund,
you would not see unrealized gains and losses. You might see a dividend issued by
that fund; but in many cases especially on the commingled side, it was taken care of
and was the difference between the beginning mazket value and the ending market
value. The dividends were reinvested and you would not see an unrealized gain and
loss report. You would only see those if shares were sold. Mr. Newell commented
he was trying to get a comfort level for Finance, keeping them in the loop, so they got
the information they needed. Discussion ensued. Ms. Maqueda commented she had
beginning unit vaiue and ending unit value, but the number of units had changed, so
she could not calculate per sharc—it depended on when additional shazes were
purchased and at what price. Ms. Maqueda indicated it was her uriderstanding that in
� the past the function of the Finance Departrrient with the pension fund was as a
facilitating bookkeeping function, but now the person doing the reconciliation_ was
being asked to do wha.t appeared ta her to be a pretty cornplex calculation, and if there
was a formula why couldn't Rockwood provide that data. Mz�. Bogdahn commented
�if you looked at the Wachovia or Salern Trust statements, and you bought 1Q shares of:
Microsoft at 30; the next month you bought 10 shazes of Microsoft at 20; the next
month 10 shares of Microsoft at 25, when you looked at your month-end value at the
end of that third month it would:have your average cost based on the number of
shazes you purchased and their price. Once a custodian was in place fhe eustodian
statement shauld provide the information the Finance Department was looking for in
order to reconeile. In this case, raw data eame from the commingled fund which was
doing it for the board's account and for all the other accounts they had and just
breaking out beginning and ending numbers of shares in a value to you, and were not
doing intermediate steps that a custodian would do. Until a custodian was in place,
the Finance Department would not get data. that was easy to reconcile. The custodian .
would show realized gains and losses, and would provide mazket values.
Chair Newell asked where tlus boazd stood in selection of a custodian. Ms. Maqueda
responded at the last meeting the board had placed a conference call to Rockwood, a
short laundry list was requested, they were to get back to Ms. Forsythe. Nobody had
gotten back to the Finance Department from A. G. Edwards: That had prompted her
e-mail to Rockwood. Ms. Maqueda reported all assets were transferred from
Wachovia to Rockwood and although there had been a delay, that had resulted in a
$2,000+ gain.
Chair Newell commented he heard the concerns, but this boazd needed to decide on a
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENERAI� EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGUI..AR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May �o, 2005 .
PAGE 8
custodian between A. G. Edwards Trust or Salem Trust. Mr. Bogdahn suggested the
custodial fees became more crucial when there were retirees that were being paid.
There currently were none, so his suggestion was to go with A. G. Edwards and if
they did not work out to change to Salem Trust. Chair Newell sta.ted if A. G.
Edwazds was chosen as custodian he did not want to see. them relax and get off the
issue with Finance. They must satisfy Finance and give thern the information they
needed, and if the board decided to do business with them he wanted to hear from
them that they were going to meet the requirements that Finance was asking for.
�oardmember Paterno recommended that Jody, Patrice, and Joe be given two weeks
to have:an answer, the board would hold a special meefing and it would be decided. It
was noted that Ms Forsythe would be back in a week. Boardmember Paterno
stressed to Mr. Bogdahn that his particigation was needed in this to get the answers as
faz as quality of service with A. G. Edwards, so that this would not linger and it would
get done. Mr. Bogdahn advised with Salem Trust, that there would be a one-month
delay in data because Salem Trust did not actually hold the funds, so their Mazch
statement would give the February data. That might also be true of A. G'Edwazds,
and he would find out.
Boardmember Hansen commented Patrice had explained earlier why A. G. Ed.wazds
was reluctant to come up with answers because the Village was not their customer,
and he viewed that as a virtue on their part. He saw nothing wrong with A. G
Edwards, and went along with the suggestion of holding a special meeting in a couple
of weeks. Ms. Carlisle commented Salem Trust might be less expensive because they
were the custodian for the Public Safety Officers' fund. Mr. Paterno commented Jody
had spoken very highly of Salem Trust.
� Discussion ensued regazding setting a time for a conference call between Joe
Bogdahn, Patriee Maqueda, and Jody Forsythe to report his findings from A. G.
Edwards. Mr. Bogdahn noted it would be better for the Village to negotiate the fee
because if he did it they would know he would want that fee for all the other accounts
he dealt with. A conference call was set for 9 a.m. on Friday, May 13.
The board discussed when they could meet.
. MOTION
- Boardmember Garlo made a motion to hold a special meeting of the board, without
Mr. Bogdahn and Attorney Jensen present, at the EOC, on Tuesday, May 17, 2005
BOARD OF TRI7STEES
TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES ,
May io, 2005
PAGE 9
at 8 a.m. Boardmember Hansen seconded the motion, which carried by unanimoas
5-0 vote.
c) Consideration of approval of amended investment guideGnes
Joe Bogdahn explained the value line requirements, and that those safety ratings were
not used today by most investment managers. In the past, State statutes had required
equities to be rated by a major rating service and that they be ranked in one of the top
three classifications, but that ha.d been eliminated from the statutes in about 1998.
Now there were no restrictions, and Rockwood did not use value line. It did not cover
the complete range of equities. Mr. Bogdahn noted the current policy required
ranking in the top three except for 20%, and he recommended no restrictions, which
would be in accordance with the State statutes. DiscussiQn ensued. Boardmember
Paterno was in favor ofdropping the value line requirement since it was outdated,
and the other members of the boazd agreed.
MOTIUN:
Boardmember Hansen made a motion to amend the investment policy under
Section 3, Investment Guidelines, (a) Authorized Investments (1)(a)(ii) to remove
the value line verbiage of 1,2 or 3. Boardmember Garlo seconded the motion,
which carried by unanimous 5-0 vote.
VII. CONSENT AGENDA
a) Payments to be reviewed and approved: _
Business Services Connection, Inc. $ 141.60 (Minutes of 2/14/0�
Business Services Connection, Inc. $ 188.8U (Minutes of 3/14/0�
Hanson, Perry, & Jenson $1,730.90
A. G. Edwards Trust Co. FAB $ 78:67
b) Approval of new applicant for participation in Pension Plan:
William Mark Taylor — Meter Reader — Date of hire 5/2/05
c) Ratification of withdrawal of contributions (employees terminating employment
with Village of Tequesta) `
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGUIaAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE �o
(1) Scott Graham — date of termination 3/8/05 — Total $4,182.31
($3,345.85 payout + $836.46 taxes)
(2) Thomas Adams - date of termination 3/3/05 — Total $1,55$.09
($1,246.47 payout + $311.62}
Item (a) had been pulled from the Consent Agenda
Boardmember Hansen inquired as to the reason €or the $78.67 payment request toA.
G. Edwards, since the fund did not have a contract with them. Ms. Maqueda
explained the $3.67 was the fund's pro rata share of the overall account with
Roekwood: Discussion ensued. °Mr. Bogdahn indicated #here was no contract and
advised not #o pay that. It was determined that the $75.00 was a legitimate chazge but
Attorney Jensen advised the Board should have a letter detailing that $75,00 was �
owed as a quarterly fee for the sub account. Boardmember Paterno commented in the
future this should not have to be paid.
MO� �
Boardmember Paterno made a motion to correct the payment to A. G. Edwards
_ in item (a)(3) from $78.57 to $75.00 and that Joe Bogdahn would get the $3.57
taken care of. Boardmember Hansen seconded the motion, which carried by
unanimous 5-0 vote.
Item (c) had been pulled from the Consent Agenda
Boardmember Paterno commented there ha.d only been one signer on a letter
authorizing these payments and asked if there should be t�vo signatures on a letter the
same as required on a check. Chair Newell responded the board had authorized the
Chair to make this on�e request., and there had been two signatures on the forms.
Ms. Maqueda commented the Finance Department needed a procedure. Chair
Newell recommended making a policy requiring two signatures on everything, and
asked if the boazd needed to grant signatory authority to Ms. Lux. Attorney 3ensen
advised she could just be added on whatever the boardmembers signed. Ms.
Cazlisle commented the payout forms should state the employee's position,
and Ms. Maqueda commented they should also state which pension plan the
employee was in. Consensus was to have the forms changed.
MO�
Boardmember Paterno made a motian to approve the consent agenda.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES � !
TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEES' PENSION TR.UST FUND
REGUI.AR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 .
PAGE 1�
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Boardmember Hansen seconded.the motion, which carried by unanimous 5-0
vote.
VIII. FINANCIAL REPORTS
a) 5tatement of Accounts (January Z005-March, 2005) - Wachovia
Ms. Carlisle noted the Wachovia sta.tements were for the first quarter. Boazdmember
Eatemo questianed why there was money in Wachovia after January 1. Ms. Maqueda
explained that when the General Employees' Pension Fund decided to pull out of
: Wachovia that.was not coinmunicated to the Payroll Department for aome time, so
they had followed their normal procedure with the contributions and then learned
from the bank the account had been closed. The bank had agreed to deposit the check
since the check had already been generated. - Consensus was to give Finance direction
to write the three checks approved on the consent agenda from the Wachovia balance,
and to .transfer the difference.
b) Account Statements — Rockwood Capital Advisors
1VIr. Bogdahn explained the income reporting procedure for stocks that were not
paying a dividend. Ms. Maqueda explained deposits went to A. G. Edwazds first but
#hen appeazed on Rockwood statements. Discussion ensued. Ms. Maqueda indicated
she could not tell what made up the deposits. Boardmember Patemo explained that
detail would come from A. G. Edwazds, and the process would:get easier when
everything got transferred. Ms. Maqueda indicated she would like more detail on the
statements in order to be able to properly reconcile the statements.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
a) Consideration of approval of Ordinance 598
Chair Newell explained that this ordinance was prepared to amend Sectian 9,
which was on page 14 of the ordinance; a member must be vested in order to receive
_ disability benefits resulting from off-duty injuries. It was previously from day one.
Joe Bogdahn commented on page 8, number 4, this said the three top ratings for
bonds, but the Public Safety Board had changed that to four, and the investment
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENERAI� EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE �2
policy for this board stated four. Attorney Jensen advised the language should be
changed to state "and in the case.of bonds only holds a rating of one of the four
highest classifications". Ms. Carlisle commented ifthis board approved the change it
could be brought up at the Village Council meeting when this Ordinance was
presented for their approval, and they could approve the change or not. Ms. Carlisle
also advised that the impact statement had been received from Mr. Palmquist, which
would be sent out to the Village Council today, and a memo coutd be included to �
advise them of that change. Conserisus was to include the mema
MOTION
Boardmember Hansen made a motion to accept and approve Ordinance 598 with the
amended language of item 4 on page S. Boardmember Paterno seconded the motion,
which carried by unanimous 5-0 vote.
b) Discussion of FRS - �
Chair Newell commented there was a lot of interest in this. Boazdmember Gazlo
commented he had the FRS numbers for next year. Chair Newell expressed his opinion
that the first step should be a survey of interest of the employees to determine how many
really were interested. Boardmember Hansen asked if there would no longer be a boazd.
Chair Newell commented there were options. If this pension fund remained in place,
: :employees might be given the option of choosing which plan they wanted or to be in both,
- and in that case the boazd would remain intact. Attomey Jensen reported that last week
she had been in a meeting where a city was interviewing FRS and asking questions.
Attorney Jensen reminded the boazd that it was their fiduciary duty to act in the best
interest of the employees; therefore, termination of this pension plan would have to come
from another source, in this case Village Council. If that happened, everybody in the
plan would be vested. If the Village decid�d to transfer assets ta another plan, then
everybody in the plan had to give up what they had. They would be entitled to a refund of
their contributions. The Village would take back what it put into the fund and would then
decide how many years they wanted to buy, but must buy the same number of years for
everybody. The Village would have to pay any costs. Members with more than what the
Village was buying could purchase more, based on the contribution rate at the time and a
6-1 /2% interest rate. Past service with the Village—they could buy up until the date they
terminated employment. Members would have a ehoice of whether to remain in the plan
or go to Florida retirement. Boazdmember Paterno commented this conversation was a
moot point since this was something the board had no power to do, and could not even
recommend it to the Village Council. Chair Newell advised he was only asking the boazd
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GENERAL EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGUI.AR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE lg
for a survey o€ interest for the members of this pension fund. Attorney Jensen advised -
that this boazd could not approach the Village Council about termination ofthis plan, but
the employees eould ask them. Ms. Carlisle commented when she worked at Wellington,
they had the choice of transferring, and FRS came in and talked individually to employees
and told them the benefits of staying_in their plan or of going with FRS, and expressed her
opinion it wauld be in the best interest of the employees for HR to have someone &om
FRS come in to do an apples-to-agples comparison to educate the employees. Mr. Gazlo
advised the FRS benefit rate was 1.I6% and the cost was 7.83%. The Village was
currently paying 8.73°lo for the General Employees' plan, and the employees were
contributing 5%. Mr. Bogd�hhn gave an example of an employee who retired and it would
take nine yeazs for their FRS benefit to equal what it would be under the present plan.
Ms. Carlisle commented that was not necessarily true, because the employees would not
have to contribute their 5% and could invest that elsewhere to possibly make up or exceed
the difference. Attorney Jensen explained under FRS an employee could go to another.
town that had FRS and still be a member. Boardmember Hansen recalled several yeazs
ago when he was on the Village Council the Village had left FRS because at that time the
cost was so high. Attorney Jensen advised that the real issue was control=with FRS the
Village had little control—and at that time the FRS ra.te had been very high--17%, and had
planned to go to 22%. Boazdmember Patemo noted that from 1984 through 2000 FRS
had been very high, but recently their cast had come down. Ms. Carlisle commented that `
naw FRS had both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, wluch was a recent
change, and members had an option to change that plan once or twice during their
lifetime, Ghair Newell commented this was really a closed issue for the board and it was
up to HR to determine what they wanted to da Boardmember Hansen asked who would
inform the employees. Boazdmember Paterno expressed his opinion that this boazd could
do nothing, and HR could do nothing without Village Council's approval. ChairNewell
commented it was cleaz this board could do nothing on this issue, so that ended the
discussion.
X. ANY OTHER MATTERS
Chair Newell commented on page 8 of the Administrative Rules, Duties of the Secretary,
was a lot. Attorney Jensen pointed out from discussion at the last meeting item "H" had
been added which said items "B" through "G" may be delegated to the pension
coordinator. Attorney Jensen commented from the board's discussions today it sounded
like other items needed to be added because the board was talking about processing
payments, how they wanted to process refunds of contributions, how they wanted to do
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GEN�ItAI. EMPLOYEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR QUAR.TERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 .
PAGE �4
benefit agplications, how they wanted 15 days in advance, and that information should be
in the administrative rules so it could be provided to the Finance Department and the
Pension Coordinator so they would have rules laid out. Boazdrnember Paterno
commented the fifth person chosen by the boazd needed to be added also. Chair Newell
asked if the board needed to give Attorney Jensen more time to make changes to the
Administrative Rules or if they could be finalized today. Boardmember Gairlo asked how
many changes there were. Attorney Jensen advised that they could be approved today
except the information about the fifth person needed to be added, but based on the
conversation today it sounded like the rules needed to be more explicit as faz as internal
controls to help Finance and the Pension Coordinator as faz as knowing what the rules
were, in other words, an example was that it was the board's interest to have people make.
- application for refund of contributions more than 15 days before their meeting; they now
wanted. to approve them and then pay the refund the contributions; a11 that and anything
else Finance wanted should be added. 1VIs. Maqueda commented another. addition would •
be what the board had decided was required in order to disburse funds, and then to be
sure that the Finance Department was included in that process. The past procedure of
Betty or Gwen notifying her what needed to be paid and when she knew where to record
that, had worked well in the past. Chair Newell commented that needed to be added as
well as that two signatures would be required for everything. Boardmember Hansen ,
commented he would like to have the opportunity to read through the administrative
rules, and requested this be brought up at a later meeting. Chair Newell commented
Attorney Jensen could make the changes and then the board could look at a clean
document. Consensus was to ta.ble this until later and to give Attorney Jensen authority
to make the changes. ,
� Chair Newell asked if there were any comments on tlie policy on trustee expenses.
Attorney Jensen advised the IRS rate went up to 40-I/2 cents reimbursement per mile
effective January 1. Chair Newell commented the Village paid 29 cents per mile, and
asked if the board could set its own rate, which Attorney 3ensen confirmed. Attomey
Jensen advised the board did nat have to go to the same rate as the IRS. Boazdmember
' Hansen recommended changing the wording to be that the rate would follow the IRS
reimbursement rate, so whenever it changed this would not have to be changed. Attorney
Jensen advised she could provide the board with the reimbursement rates publication.
Ms. Carlis'le asked about the reimbursement form, which she commented did not appear
to be a Village document. Attorney Jensen indicated she would e-mail the form to Ms.
Carlisle.
Boardmember Hansen commented he was not familiar Ms. Lux's employment with the
;�
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TEQUESTA GEI�ERAL EMPL4YEES' PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
May io, 2005 �
PAGE 15 .
Village. Ms. Lux advised she had worked for the Village going on three yeazs and was
the Village Planner, and she worked with Mr. Newell.
Boazdmember Hansen asked the status of trustee training schools. Mr. Newell responded
a new schedule had been r�ceived yesterday and there was an FPTTA conference in Boca
_ Raton June 26-30. Discussion ensued. Chair Newell cammented it would be a good
opportunity for Carol. Mr. Gazlo had been approved in the past but was not allowed to
attend, so indicated he would make that request again.
MOTION
Boardmember Hansen made. a motion to send Mr. Gario and Ms. Lua to the June
26-30 FPTTA seminar �n Boca Raton. Boardmem6er Paterno seconded the motion,
" which carried by unanimous 5-0 vote.
It was confirmed that the boazd's next quarterly meeting would be held according to their
schedule on August 15, 2005.
XI. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS .
There were no comments from the public.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
Boardmember Gazlo made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Boardmember Hansen, and
. unanimously approved. Therefore, the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
� ,C��� G�����
�
Betty Laur
� Recording Secretary