Pension_05-05-2021Min BOARD OF TRUSTEES
City of Longwood Police Officers and Firefighters
Pension and Trust Fund
Longwood City Commission Chambers
175 West Warren Avenue
Longwood, Florida
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
May 5,2021
6:00 P.M.
Present: Robert Redditt,Chair
Kevin Little, Secretary
Cole Copertino, Member(Via Zoom)
Chris Eichler, Member
Pedro Herrera, Board Attorney(Via Zoom)
Jeremy Langley, Florida League of Cities
Michelle Longo, City Clerk
Judith Rosado, Finance Director
Absent: Bruce Kubec,Vice-Chair
1. Call to Order. Chair Redditt called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Election of Officers
A. Chair
B. Vice-Chair
C. Secretary
Mr. Herrera confirmed there is a physical quorum present for voting. He advised
one of the attendees is attending by telecom.As required under the Sunshine
Law, a Trustee can only vote if they are physically present in the room unless
there are exigent or extenuating circumstances.The Attorney General's opinions
in the past have held that if there are extenuating circumstances and these are
adopted or accepted by the rest of the Board of Trustees, an absent member can
participate in the discussion and also have his vote count if attending via
teleconference or electronic media. He provided examples of possible
extenuating circumstances. He asked the Board if they would accept Member
Copertino's current extenuating circumstances before opening the floor for
nominations.
It was the consensus of the Board to allow Member Copertino to participate and
hear his thoughts but his vote would not be counted.
Chair Redditt opened the floor for nominations.
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Secretary Little moved to retain all incumbent officers. Seconded
by Member Eichler and carried by a unanimous voice vote with
Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
4. Approval of Minutes: February 3, 2021, Regular Meeting
Member Eichler moved to approve the minutes as presented.
Seconded by Secretary Little and carried by a unanimous voice
vote with Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
5. Review of Agenda Packet Material.
A. Quarterly Performance Review.
Mr. Langley went over the Quarterly Performance Review ending
December 30, 2020, and provided an updated review on numbers from
March 2021. He then answered questions.
B. Plan Account Statements (December 2020,January 2021,and February
2021).
The Beginning Balance for December 2020 was$23,861,473.36,the
Contributions were $58,183.17,the Earnings were $843,596.14, the
Distributions were $22,522.60, the Fees and Expenses were $4,696.25,
and the Ending Balance was $24,736,033.82.
The Beginning Balance for January 2021 was $24,736,033.82,the
Contributions were $85,011.89,the Losses were$281,432.66,the
Distributions were $22,522.60,the Fees and Expenses were $21,676.51,
and the Ending Balance was $24,495,413.94.
The Beginning Balance for February 2021 was$24,495,413.94,the
Contributions were$57,867.62,the Earnings were $608,398.68,the
Distributions were $22,522.60,the Fees and Expenses were $0, and the
Ending Balance was$25,139,157.64.
Mr. Langley answered questions related to the market. He noted changes
in the Core Plus Fund including removing Frank Templeton as manager
and moving all assets over to Pioneer.
Discussion ensued on inflation, interest rates rising, the stock market, and
the current economy.
Member Eichler moved to accept the Plan Account Statements as
presented. Seconded by Secretary Little and carried by a
unanimous voice vote with Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
C. Expense Report.
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Secretary Little moved to approve the Expense Report as
presented. Seconded by Member Eichler and carried by a
unanimous voice vote with Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
D. Actuarial Report 2020
Chair Redditt reviewed the Actuarial Report.
Discussion ensued on the refunds that are due to the 37 participants that
are no longer in the Plan and ensuring the money is paid to them.
Mr. Herrera suggested trying to resend letters to those who have not
responded, attempting to find a different address to the letters that were
returned, and inquiring about free services to find the participants. He
also suggested, after reasonable attempts to find them with no success,
turning it over to the States' Unclaimed Property Division. He said if at
some point these individuals do resurface,they can get their money as
opposed to forfeiting the funds or holding the liability on the books which
is not recommended.
Discussion continued about how to handle the current unclaimed
contributions. It was also noted per Florida Statute 175/185 one is
allowed to keep their contributions in the Plan for up to five years.
Chair Redditt continued reviewing the Actuarial Report.
Mr. Langley went over changes and said one was the mortality table. He
said this was the one assumption mandated by the State and mirrored
what they were doing. On all other assumptions, the Actuary is making a
recommendation and as a Board, you decide whether you like his
assumptions and approve the report based on that. He suggested that
the only assumption to look at to help build the health of the plan with
extra assets would be the Assumed Rate of Return which is at 7%. He said
that is appropriate, it is ahead of the curb, and it is slightly above average
compared to other Plans in the State.
Member Eichler asked if overtime worked over 300 hours per year should
be getting the 1% deduction of pensionable earnings. He said he
understands it should not be but stated he knows it is occurring and
wants to know how this can be fixed.
Mr. Herrera advised one should only be making a Pension contribution on
pensionable wages/salaries. Anything above 300 hours is not a
pensionable salary,therefore, the 1%should not apply to those extra
hours worked.
Ms. Longo noted she and Ms. Rosado would go back to review the hours,
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try to determine how it is being done, and bring it to the next meeting.
Discussion ensued on determining how voluntary overtime over 300
hours is being handled with payroll and what constitutes pensionable
earnings.
Mr. Langley explained that the Overall Contribution Rate increased about
two-thirds of 1%. He said a .34% reduction was due to investment
gains/losses and the 1.49%decrease was due to the mortality change. He
said the whole reason there was two-thirds of a percentage increase was
because of a 2.75% increase due to demographic experience. He said you
are assuming a 4% payroll increase annually. There was a 91/2% increase
last year in payroll. He said these were the only things that impacted the
report from the prior year.
Mr. Langley noted there is an Advanced Employer Contribution that sits
at $271,359 it was at$336,000 but $64,000 was used last year. If you pay
any amount less than the minimum required the Actuary will
automatically take it out of the Advanced Employer Contribution.
Member Eichler moved to approve the Actuarial Report as
presented. Seconded by Secretary Little and carried by a
unanimous voice vote with Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
6. Other Business. None.
7. Board Attorney Report.
Mr. Herrera explained the changes made to the Summary Plan Description and
answered questions.
Secretary Little moved to approve the Summary Plan Description
as presented. Seconded by Member Eichler and carried by a
unanimous voice vote with Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
A. Status update on the continuance of the Joshua lamaio Disability
Informal Hearing.
Mr. Herrera advised he followed up with Mr. lamaio's attorney who said
they are still in the process of doing stuff,they have additional medical
records, and are ready for the Board to set the hearing for whenever is
convenient. He asked when the Members would like to set the informal
hearing.
Discussion ensued on reviewing the new medical documents and when to
set the informal hearing.
It was the consensus of the Board to hold a special meeting for the
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informal hearing whenever Mr. lamaio and his attorney are prepared to
present his case.
Mr. Herrera advised there were no Bills that passed in the Legislative session
that affect the plan. He mentioned Senate Bill 84, the Bill seeking to close the
defined benefit fund of the Florida Retirement System for non-special risks, did
not pass.The other Bill for Police Officers Membership was signed by the
Governor and effectively increases certain criminal liabilities for public protests.
It also has new definitions for mobs. It similarly did restrict local entities from
being able to divert funds from their respective police departments.
Mr. Herrera reminded the Members to fill out their Financial Disclosure forms
that are due by July 1. He noted the Governor issued an Executive Order two
days ago where he effectively invalidated any kind of emergency rule
implemented by local legislative agencies concerning COVID. He did specifically
issue an order giving the ability for local agencies to pass a law to amend their
ordinance to provide for their COVID restrictions.
8. Member Comments.
Ms. Longo advised after the vote to approve the Actuarial Report the State
requires the Board to set the expected rate of return for the next year,the next
several years, and the long term thereafter.
Secretary Little moved to approve an expected rate of return at
7%for the next year,the next several years, and for the long-term
thereafter. Seconded by Member Eichler and carried by a
unanimous voice vote with Vice-Chair Kubec absent.
Mr. Langley advised the change on the target allocations is 9%.The large-cap
goes from 34 to 25%, the small to mid-cap goes from 11 to 14%and the
international goes up 15 to 21%. He also mentioned a full-service option the
League offers where they would work to prepare the Board's agendas, record all
the meetings, take notes, complete the minutes, and schedule the meetings. He
said it would be $3,000 a year.
9. Public Participation. None.
10. Adjournment.Chair Redditt adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Board of Tr 08-04-20
Robert Redditt,Chair
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hell ecor retary
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