Minutes - 10/24/2019 - Police Pension Fund BoardBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 1 of 5 October 24, 2019
VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND - Minutes
October 24, 2019
UNOFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED AS WRITTEN
OR AS AMENDED BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
POLICE PENSION FUND ON January 21, 2020
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund was called to
order by President Vel Torlo at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Level Conference Room of the Samuel E. Dean
Board Room of the Butler Government Center, 1200 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook, Illinois.
2. ROLL CALL
The roll was called with the following persons
PRESENT: President Vel Torlo, Vice President Alan Feldman, Secretary Ed Caspers, Trustee Hitesh
Patel, Trustee Ben Kadolph
ABSENT: None
IN ATTENDANCE: Phil Kosmala and Zach Pearsall of Taiber Kosmala and Associates, Alex Garber
of Fifth Third Bank, Village Finance Director/Treasurer Jason Paprocki
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS None presented.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of July 31, 2019
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Vice President Feldman, to approve the Meeting
Minutes of the July 31, 2019 Regular Board Meeting as presented.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one
motion.
a. Approval of June 1-30, 2019 expenditures in the total amount of $263,101.18
b. Approval of July 1-31, 2019 expenditures in the total amount of $246,782.24
c. Approval of August 1-31, 2019 expenditures in the total amount of $247,873.25
d. Approval of Mesirow Insurance Services, Inc. invoice in the amount of $4,027.00
e. Approval of Reimer & Dobrovolny, PC invoice in the amount of $87.50
f. Approval of Inspe Associates LTD invoice in the amount of $600.00
g. Approval of reimbursement to Pension Clerk for pension conference registration and lodging
in the amount of $1,491.36
h. Approval of Pension Clerk’s timesheet for the period of January through April 2019, in th e
amount of $181.25
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to approve the Consent Agenda.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – President Torlo, Vice President Feldman, Secretary Caspers, Trustee Patel,
Trustee Kadolph
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 2 of 5 October 24, 2019
6. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – None presented.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Taiber Kosmala and Associates, LLC Report on Third Quarter, 2019
Mr. Kosmala opened the meeting with an overview of third quarter market highlights. He stated that
the three Ts dominated market psychology in the third quarter: Trade, Tariffs, and Treasuries. He
explained that after strong performance results for both stocks and bonds during the first half of the
year, global economies appeared to be inching closer to recession in August, primarily due to
escalating trade conflicts with China. He added that several political and economic forces coupled
with structural market dynamics led to a more constructive result as the quarter came to a close , and
that, ultimately, policy accommodation from global central banks helped push stubborn risk markets
to modest gains on the quarter.
Mr. Kosmala went on to discuss that policy-makers have responded to weak economic data, political
tensions, and yield curve signals by stimulating their economies through rate cuts and fiscal
spending. Taiber Kosmala expects the Fed to cut rates by 0.25% in late October and then to remain
on hold for an extended period thereafter. He said that the stabilizing effects of these stimuli results in
a moderately constructive view on risk assets. He added that a recovery in Europe, a resilient U.S.
consumer, and a de-escalation in trade wars appear likely to keep the historic bull market and record
economic expansion intact.
The U.S. economy slowed earlier this year and appears to have deteriorated further in the third quarter
remarked Mr. Kosmala, and that second quarter GDP slowed to a 2.0% annualized rate while the year-
over-year pace slowed to 2.3%. He stated that, in comparison, the first quarter registered a 3.1% growth
rate and 2.7% year-over-year reading. He discussed the following:
The U.S. has remained on a slow growth path but, notably, is growing faster than most
countries and regions.
Consumer balance sheets remain strong, supported by low unemployment, improving
wages, and elevated confidence.
The tight labor market suggests wages and spending will remain strong.
Unemployment claims are hovering around the multi-decade low established a year
ago.
Retail sales increased 1.5% in the third quarter and are growing at a healthy 4% annual
pace.
Disposable income is expanding at a 3% annual rate.
The household savings rate is at 7.9% of after-tax income, particularly high given the
lowest debt-to-asset ratio since 1985.
Mr. Kosmala stated that after underperforming for most of the year, value-oriented stocks outperformed
growth-oriented stocks in the quarter with much of this reversal occurring in September. He said that
this was true across the market capitali zation spectrum : that large-cap stocks outperformed mid-cap
and small-cap; that the S&P 500 returned +1.7% in Q3 whereas mid-caps were flat and small-cap were
down -2.4%.; that the trade dispute between the U.S. and China remains a hot button issue within
international and emerging markets equities; that the effects of the trade war are rippling through the
global supply chain where new orders have weakened, inventories are being reduced, and capital
investment is being put on hold until there is better clarity around the situation; and that most
international markets delivered negative returns in the quarter with developed markets down -1% and
emerging markets down -4%.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 3 of 5 October 24, 2019
Mr. Kosmala talked about the following:
Most fixed income sectors produced strong returns in the quarter.
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index advanced 2.3% in the quarter,
bringing the year-to-date return to 8.5%.
The US 10-year treasury yield declined from 2.03% to 1.68% during the quarter,
reaching its lowest levels since 2016’s Brexit vote.
Although rates in the U.S. have fallen significantly, they remain well above those of
most other developed countries; it is estimated that over 25% of all government bonds
are yielding below 0%.
Corporate credit fundamentals remain solid with reasonable balance sheet leverage,
strong interest coverage, and low default rates.
Next, it was reported that the portfolio performed in line with the benchmark during the third quarter,
returning 1%; that year-to-date the portfolio has outperformed by 0.7%, returning 13.4%; that manager
performance was strong across the board, with the exception of international small cap equities in which
Oberweis underperformed by more than 3%; that PIMCO Income has also been a drag on relative
performance, with negative returns for the quarter as the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index was up over
2%.; and that the portfolio is overweight large cap US equities relative to policy, which remains a strong
tailwind despite nearly double-digit returns in the fixed income sector.
Given the strong equity returns through the first nine months of the year, and the significant overweight
to risk assets in the portfolio, Taiber Kosmala recommended a 2% shift from equity to fixed income,
specifically, that the trade will be sourced from the Vanguard 500 Index Fund, and will be reallocated
to the fixed income account managed by Fifth Third. No other recommendations were made.
Oak Brook Pension Performance
On page 7 of the Taiber, Kosmala Report, the portfolio activity was listed as follows:
b. Fifth Third Financial Investment Management Performance Report on Third Quarter, 2019
Mr. Garber discussed the Fifth Third report (entitled “Investment Review”) and referred to page 10,
Performance Summary: Asset Category, specifically, the Domestic Fixed Income, trailing 1.3%. He
stated that it was a good quarter, a lot better than equities, which were a little bit choppy in August. He
remarked on a couple trades and other short-term bonds, and said that the overall duration was 3.15
and that they did not want to go much lower than that. He stated that the makeup of the portfolio will
not change all that much, that about half is in domestic government bonds, taxable municipals.
Summary of Cash Flows
Beginning Market Value $38,658,183
Net Cash Flow - $ 20,952
Net Investment Change $ 4,674,918
Ending Market Value on 3/31/18 $39,048,279
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 4 of 5 October 24, 2019
Page 8 of the Fifth Third report, Allocation Summary: Asset Category, shows the marketable holdings:
%
HOLDINGS MARKET VALUE
ESTIMATED
ANNUAL
INCOME
CURRENT
YIELD
Marketable Holdings
Traditional Asset
Classes 100.00% $12,158,549.10 $442,570.59 3.64%
Cash and Equivalents 3.41% $ 414,368.17 $ 8,328.80 2.01%
Fixed Income 96.59% $11,744,180.93 $434,241.79 3.70%
Total Marketable
Holdings 100.00% $12,158,549.10 $442,570.59 3.64%
Total Holdings $12,158,549.10 $442,570.59 3.64%
c. Approval of Investment Transactions for Third Quarter, 2019
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to approve the Investment
Transactions for Third Quarter, 2019.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – President Torlo, Vice President Feldman Secretary Caspers, Trustee Patel,
Trustee Kadolph
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
In regard to the previous recommendation made by Taiber Kosmala & Associates, the following motion
was made:
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to follow the recommendation made
by Taiber Kosmala to trim $600,000 from large cap Vanguard to bonds.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – President Torlo, Vice President Feldman, Secretary Caspers, Trustee Patel,
Trustee Kadolph
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
d. Approval of Pension Clerk’s reimbursement to the Fund for cancellation/credit of pension
conference registration in the amount of $385.00
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to approve the reimbursement to the
Fund for cancellation/credit of pension conference registration in the amount of $385.00.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
e. Approval of Application for Membership in the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund of Lawrence C.
Beyer (hired 9/9/2019)
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to approve the Application for
Membership in the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund of Lawrence C. Beyer.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 5 of 5 October 24, 2019
f. Approval of Application for Membership in the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund of Michael Bubash
(hired 9/9/2019)
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to approve the Application for
Membership in the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund of Michael Bubash.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
g. Discussion/action regarding resolution opposing proposed pension legislation
Trustee Patel and Secretary Caspers provided some insight regarding this legislation. Lengthy
discussion ensued. It was suggested that the legislat ors representing the Village of Oak Brook receive
a letter from the Board, as well as other legislators representing other Board members, stating the views
of the Board. It was suggested that the resolution also be sent to the retirees and active members.
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Vice President Feldman to sign and forward to the
appropriate legislators the resolution opposing consolidation.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
Consensus to send the resolution to the legislators, as well as to the retirees, asking them to
communicate with their legislators. Secretary Caspers agreed to draft a cover letter for the Board’s
approval and send to Pension Clerk Kane for dissemination to the legislators and retirees.
8. PENDING BUSINESS
a. Discussion regarding disability matter
Brief discussion ensued regarding continued delay. Consensus to keep this on the agenda for the next
meeting.
9. INFORMATION & UPDATES
a. Scheduling of fourth quarterly meeting in January 2020
Consensus to meet for the first quarterly meeting on January 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to adjourn the Board of Trustees of
the Police Pension Fund meeting at 7:53 p.m. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
ATTEST:
Edward J. Caspers /s/
Edward J. Caspers, Secretary
Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund