Minutes - 03/31/2021 - Police Pension Fund BoardBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Disability Hearing Minutes Page 1 of 3 March 31, 2021
VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND - Minutes
March 31, 2021 APPROVED AS WRITTEN √
OR AS AMENDED BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND ON April 22, 2021
1. CALL TO ORDER:
The Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund was called to
order by President Vel Torlo at 4:31 p.m. in the Upper Level Conference 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 Edward Caspers, Trustee
Hitesh Patel (via Zoom), Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz
ABSENT: None
IN ATTENDANCE: Board Attorney Richard Reimer, Applicant’s Attorney David Figlioli, Disability
Applicant Officer John Jacobs, Court Reporter Lisa Breiter, Pension Clerk Rose Kane
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None presented
4. HEARING ON DISABILITY APPLICATION OF OFFICER JOHN JACOBS:
After Roll Call, President Torlo stated that he was turning the meeting over to Attorney Reimer.
Attorney Reimer stated that this is a hearing being conducted pursuant to Article 3 of the Illinois Pension
Code regarding the disability claim of Officer John Jacobs. Attorney Reimer explained the hearing
procedure.
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Foltyniewicz to appoint Attorney Reimer as
Hearing Officer. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
Attorney Reimer continued explaining the procedure and rules of the disability hearing. Consensus of
the Board to vote orally and be followed up with a written decision.
Board Exhibits 1-29 were admitted into the administrative record without any objections. The
Applicant’s counsel, Attorney Figlioli, waived opening statement and called his first witness, the
Applicant, Officer John Jacobs, who was sworn in and began answering questions from his attorney.
A brief recess was taken at approximately 5:30 p.m.
The hearing resumed at approximately 5:35 p.m.
Attorney Reimer began asking Officer Jacobs questions. After Attorney Reimer’s questioning, Board
members asked questions of Officer Jacobs and Attorney Reimer asked some further questions of
Officer Jacobs.
Attorney Figlioli clarified some information previously given by Officer Jacobs. At this point, Attorney
Figlioli rested his Applicant’s case and began his closing arguments in regard to a line-of-duty disability
pension benefit.
Attorney Reimer then advised the Board that there are a couple ways to discuss the matter and make
a decision, one of which is to discuss the matter publicly, in open forum. He stated that if the matter is
discussed publicly, the attorney-client privilege is waived. He discussed that the second option is
adjourning to executive or closed session under Section 2 (c) 4 of the Open Meetings Act, following an
evidentiary hearing for purposes of deliberation. He added that going into closed session requires an
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Disability Hearing Minutes Page 2 of 3 March 31, 2021
audio or video verbatim transcript, as a backup to the court reporter’s transcript, and that no votes or
final action may be taken in closed session. Attorney Reimer stated that there is a third option of taking
the matter under advisement and returning at a later date.
5. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION, For the Purpose of deliberation following the evidentiary
hearing in the Officer Jacobs Disability claim, pursuant to 2(c)(6) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act,
respectively, at 6:39 p.m .
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Foltyniewicz, to recess to closed session.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – Vice President Feldman, Secretary Caspers, Trustee Patel, Trustee
Foltyniewicz, President Torlo
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
6. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION:
Motion by Trustee Foltyniewicz, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to reconvene to open session
at 7:38 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – President Torlo, Vice President Feldman, Trustee Foltyniewicz, Trustee Patel,
Secretary Caspers
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
Motion by Vice President Feldman, seconded by Trustee Foltyniewicz, to award Officer Jacobs
a line of duty disability pension effective the date following termination of Publ ic Employee
Disability Act (PEDA) benefits.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – President Torlo, Vice President Feldman, Trustee Foltyniewicz, Trustee Patel,
Secretary Caspers
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
Attorney Reimer stated that he will be preparing a written decision order and that the Board’s finding
is related to the right wrist/right extremity as a result of the July 7, 2015 injury. He said that the
Applicant will receive this after the Board approves it.
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to authorize the court reporter to
prepare the transcript of the executive and closed session so that the decision can be written.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – President Torlo, Vice President Feldman, Trustee Foltyniewicz, Trustee Patel,
Secretary Caspers
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
Attorney Reimer asked Attorney Figlioli for the exact date that PEDA was terminated. Attorney Reimer
stated that Officer Jacobs does not have to wait for the written decision to get on paid status; he said
that Lauterbach and Amen will need to know the effective date, the salary, and the amount of the TTD.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Disability Hearing Minutes Page 3 of 3 March 31, 2021
5. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Trustee Foltyniewicz, seconded by Trustee Patel, to adjourn the Board of Trustees of
the Police Pension Fund special meeting at 7:43 p.m. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
ATTEST:
Edward J. Caspers /s/
Edward J. Caspers, Secretary
Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund