Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund

Transcription

1 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund Minutes Regular Meeting Board of Trustees August 24, 2016 Meeting#: 1123 Called to order: 10:07 a.m. Place: Boardroom, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago, IL Presiding: Mr. Joseph Kennedy, President Present Trustees: Joseph F. Kennedy, President Robert T. Regan, Vice-President Hon. Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Secretary Hon. Barbara J. McGowan John P. Dalton, Jr. Stephen J. Carmody Staff present: Susan Boutin, Executive Director Mary Wilson, Operations Manager George Kirie, Financial Analyst Ksenija Hrvojevic, Benefits Manager Also present: Mary Ann Boyle, Treasurer, MWRD Joseph Burns, Esq. Kweku Obed, Marquette Associates Mike Ni, Marquette Associates Members of the staff Members of the public

2 Regular Business: Public Comments Mr. Kennedy solicited public comments; none responded. Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Mr. Dalton seconded by Mr. Regan, to approve the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on July 27, The motion was unanimously approved. Consent Agenda Expenses Administrative expenses to be paid in September 2016 in the amount of $717, were presented for approval. A motion was made by Mr. Regan, seconded by Mr. Carmody to approve the Administrative Expenses. The motion was unanimously approved. Employee Annuitants The applications for six new employee annuitants with a total monthly annuity benefit of $25, were presented with the recommendation that it be approved and granted as follows: Annuity # Years # Years Name Position MWRD Reciprocal Bourgeois, Cheryl R. Secretary 08/01/ Brown, Nathaniel J. MLAS 08/01/ Cardona, Carlos Accounting Clerk III 07/01/ Mason, Curtis L. MLAS 08/01/ Pierce, Doris J. Administrative Specialist 07/01/ Stinson, Derrick D. Treatment Plant Operator III 08/01/ A motion was made by Mr. Carmody, seconded by Ms. Spyropoulos to approve the Employee Annuitant applications. The motion was unanimously approved. Surviving Spouse Annuitants The applications for three new surviving spouse annuitants with a total monthly annuity benefit of $13, were presented with the recommendation that they be approved and granted as follows: Spouse (S) Deceased Annuity Name Child ( C ) EE/Retiree Begins Danca, Julienne S Danca, Carl E. 07/01/16 Hickey, Hollis M. S Hickey, Sr. Gerald M. 08/01/16 Larson, Sandra K. S Larson, Steven C. 08/01/16 A motion was made by Ms. Spyropoulos, seconded by Mr. Dalton to approve the Surviving Spouse Annuitant applications. The motion was unanimously approved. 2

3 Regular Business, continued: Refunds and Final Payments The applications for five refund and final payments in the amount of $80, were presented with the recommendation that they be approved and granted as follows: Employee/Annuitant Name Date Remarks Bourgeois, Cheryl R. 7/31/2016 No Spouse Refund Bourgeois, Cheryl R. 7/31/2016 Excess Optional Gangopadhyay, Suvodeep 6/16/2005 Termination Mason, Curtis L. 7/31/2016 No Spouse Refund Pierce, Doris J. 6/30/2016 No Spouse Refund A motion was made by Mr. Dalton, seconded by Mr. Regan to approve the Refund applications. The motion was unanimously approved. Duty Disability The ten applications for Duty Disability benefits were presented with the recommendation that they be approved and granted. A motion was made by Mr. Regan, seconded by Mr. Carmody to approve the Duty Disability applications. Ordinary Disability The three applications for Ordinary Disability benefits were presented with the recommendation that they be approved and granted. A motion was made by Mr. Carmody, seconded by Ms. Spyropoulos to approve the Ordinary Disability applications. The motion was unanimously approved. Entire Consent Agenda Mr. Kennedy conducted a roll call vote on the entire Consent Agenda as modified. The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved. The itemized reports are on file. Administrative: Cash Allocation October 2016 Ms. Boutin made the recommendation for transfers to fund the October 2016 Annuitant Payroll. Mr. Dalton made the motion to transfer a maximum of $800,000 from the SSgA S&P 400, approximately $77,103 in dividend income from the WCM account and approximately $65,925 in dividend and class action income from the transition account or a total of $943,028 to supplement funds available to cover the October 2016 payroll and expenses estimated to be $13.1 million. Mr. Carmody seconded the motion which was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Cash Transfers Ms. Boutin reported the approved vs. actual transfers as follows: August 2016 Transfers (in Millions) Approved Transferred Difference SSgA S&P 400 $11.8 $7.6 $4.2 3

4 Administrative, continued: Retiree Trustee Resignation Ms. Boutin reported that on August 10, 2016, Harold Downs submitted a letter of resignation as Trustee on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund Board of Trustees effective immediately. On behalf of the Trustees and staff Ms. Boutin thanked Mr. Downs for serving on the Board as Retiree Trustee for the past 2 1/2 years. Regarding appointment of a replacement for Mr. Downs, the ILCS states that the MWRD Board of Commissioners is to make a recommendation for the replacement Retiree Trustee, to be approved by the RF Trustees. Trustee & Staff Training and Education Ms. Boutin reported on upcoming opportunities for training: Institutional Investor Institute - Roundtable for Consultants and Institutional Investors on October st at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Cost $125 per day. Marquette 2016 Investment Symposium September 30, 2016 at the Union League Club. P&I Pension Settlement Strategies October 11, 2016 (at the Gleacher Center) Chicago Mr. Dalton made the motion to approve Trustee Training hosted by the Institutional Investment Institute on October 19 th thru the 21 st for Ms. Spyropoulos, Mr. Regan and Mr. Carmody, at a cost not to exceed $ Mr. Regan seconded the motion which was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Investment Reports: Reports by Staff Manager Update Mr. Kirie presented a performance update on the two managers scheduled to make presentations, Wasatch Advisors and Dimensional Fund Advisors. Reports are on file. Custodian Report Mr. Kirie presented the BNYM Custodial Report which showed assets as of July 31 st totaling $1.26B. He also presented the report of purchases and sales of securities in July. Reports are on file. (Enter Ms. McGowan at 10:15 a.m.) Securities Lending Report Mr. Kirie presented the Q Securities Lending Report which showed income from BNYM securities lending program of $101,736 and income from SSGA of $10,031. Reports by Investment Managers: Wasatch Advisors Ms. Kitty Swenson presented an organizational update and reported on the SCV portfolio s recent perfomance. At the request of Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Swenson spoke on some changes in the banking industry in this low interest rate environment, and stated that the portfolio expects to remain underweight in financial services. Mr. Obed s solicited her opinion on if the market was overvalued and due for a correction, and prospects for the portfolio. 4

5 Investment Reports, continued: Reports by Investment Managers, continued In response to an inquiry by Ms. Spyropoulos, Ms. Swenson commented on 2 of the top 10 holdings that are REIT s. She also responded to Mr. Kirie s inquiry, stating that the index has 15% of financials in REIT s. Dimensional Fund Advisors Mr. Doug Byrkit and Mr. Daniel Ong made their first performance update presentation since the funding of DFA s emerging markets core equity portfolio in April. Mr. Obed requested they comment on their outlook for EM. Mr. Byrkit agreed to Ms. Boutin s request that the minority brokerage data be included in their presentation books. In response to an inquiry by Ms. Boutin, Mr. Byrkit and Mr. Obed commented on the 2008/2009 performance numbers. In response to an inquiry by Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Byrkit stated that performance has been better since the announcement of Brexit. He also commented on performance attribution from Brazil, and the effect of the Olympics on the overall debt of Braxil, at the request of Mr. Kirie. Reports are on file. Other Investment Related Issues: Reports by Investment Consultant Asset Allocation Rebalancing Mr. Obed reviewed the rebalancing schedule that showed recent overweights and underweights and now includes the new emerging markets fixed income manager Garcia Hamilton; he agreed with the recommendation to fund the October 1 st annuity payroll. Real Estate Recommendation Mr. Obed recapped the recent educational sessions that were held on real estate; the roundtable discussion of real estate managers, and the session on appraisals. He made the recommendation to issue an RFP for a core open-end real estate manager, to manage a 5% or $65 million allocation as a diversifier to the Fund s fixed income portfolio. Mr. Dalton made the motion to issue an RFP for a Core Open End Real Estate Manager. There was no second; the motion was not approved. Market Update & Monthly Flash July 2016 Mr. Obed reviewed the recent market environment and performance of the Fund s investments. At the request of Mr. Carmody, Mr. Obed commented on the value process our 2 large cap managers LSV and O Shaughnessy have, which is contributing to their portfolios lagging the index. Other Comment Mr. Obed reminded the Trustees about the Marquette Investment Symposium (on Friday September 30). 5

6 Other Investment Related Issues, continued: Aggregated Pricing Initiative Ms Boutin gave an update on the City s Aggregate Pricing Initiative. At the October 28, 2015 Board meeting the Trustees discussed Kurt Summers initiative to reduce investment management fees across Illinois pension funds. Each fund was asked to agree to pursue aggregated fee proposals from investment managers where funds share the same investment strategy. The Board directed the staff to participate in the City Treasurer s Aggregate Pricing Initiative to the extent appropriate. Since that date, the Treasurer s office requested investment balances and fee information for 2 quarters. On August 10 th, some of the funds met with Miriam Martinez from the Treasurer s office to discuss the spreadsheet Civic Consulting Co. is currently developing. Funds were asked their opinion on what information is needed. The goal is to provide a database which includes all of the managers used by reciprocal funds, what asset class they manage and what the fees are paid. The funds can then work together to negotiate fees. Municipal and Laborer s stated they have one manager that agreed to an aggregated fee arrangement based on the portfolios managed for both funds. At this time, we are unsure as to when this spreadsheet will be completed. Senate Committee on Pensions and Investments Ms. Boutin reported that on August 11 th and 12 th, the Senate Committee on Pensions and Investments conducted hearings on the utilization of minorities, females and persons with a disability. Senators present at the meetings were Senator Raoul, Senator Rezin, Senator Biss and Senator Hutchinson. The funds were required to respond to 42 detailed questions prior to the hearing. Brian Wrubel, George Kirie and I attended the hearings. The focus was on the diversity of the investment consultant firms and on the Board of Directors of publicly traded companies that Fund s invest in. Securities Monitoring Ms. Boutin reported that at the July Board meeting, the Trustees discussed our securities monitoring process to date which currently includes three firms, BLBG, Cohen Milstein and Spector Roseman who provide us with quarterly or monthly reports. Trustees requested information regarding how many securities monitoring firms were used by Illinois reciprocal funds and if they were hired through an RFP process. Ms. Boutin pointed out the handout containing the requested information it lists 6 funds who work with securities monitoring firms and information as to whether or not the firms were hired through an RFP process. Two additional firms have approached us, Kaplan Fox and Berman DeValerio to provide these services to the Fund. Ms. Boutin recommended maintaining contracts with the three firms currently providing securities monitoring services. Discussion followed, including comments by Joseph Burns, Fund s consulting attorney, on the favorable fee structures that have been negotiated with the current firms. Ms. Spyropoulos noted that there is no cost to the Fund of adding additional firms, while Mr. Kennedy noted that the time requirement for staff to review additional reports is a consideration. Mr. Kennedy recommended tabling the issue until next month. 6

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