CITY OF KNOXVILLE PENSION BOARD

MINUTES

Thursday – October 8, 2009

8:15 A.M.

917B E. 5TH AVENUE

 

 

 

The regular meeting of the City of Knoxville Pension Board was held in the Pension Board Conference Room at 917 E. 5th Avenue at 8:15 a.m. on October 8, 2009.

 

Present were:   Ms. Barbara Pelot, Mr. Greg Coker, Mr. Joe Hackney, Mr. Jim Hutchens,  Ms. Robin Shelton, Mr. Jim York, Mr. Michael Cherry and Attorney Bud Gilbert.

 

Also present:  Mr. Alan Pennington and Ms. Meghan Scott with Bryan, Pendleton, Swats & McAllister; Mr. Dan Holmes with Summit Strategies; General Government employees, Mr. Richard Woodby and Mr. David Walton.

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Ms. Pelot presided and called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.

 

ENROLLMENTS:

 

The following General Government employees have filed applications to become members of the Plan G1 pension system.

                       

                        Justin Bradley

Arturo Cano

Kevin K. Carlson

                        Dallas Dalton

                        Douglas T. Gordon

                        Hannah Harris

                        Denise R. Johnston

                        Andrew Markham

                        Elie Ray Muncey

                        John M. Paseur

                        William B. Rosenbalm

                        Angela D. Schmidt

                        Karen L. Stier

                        Cory E. Thompson

                        April Tipton

                        Richard T. Woodby, III

                        Emily Woodle

 

Motion:  Mr. Hackney made a motion to approve these applications for enrollment in the Plan G1 pension system.  Mr. York seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

The following Police Department employees have filed applications to become members of the Plan C pension system.

 

                        Curtis F. Arms

                        Barry J. Britton, Jr.

                        Kevin A. Crigger

                        Jason B. Cunningham

                        Michael C. Dabbelt

                        Travis O. Davis

                        William C. Davison

                        Christopher Q. Edmonds

                        Sean M. Ford

                        Jason E. Gardner

                        Cassen Jackson-Garrison

                        Jason C. Kalmanek

                        Justin W. Kellione

                        Carl P. Kennedy

                        David S. Kerley

                        Keith M. Lamon

Samuel D. McClane, III

                        Jakob C. McDaniel

                        Dusty C. Miller

                        Matthew P. Peters

                        Matthew S. Porter

                        Clayton C.  Presley

                        Matthew S. Robinson

                        William L. Romanini

                        Robert C. Satterfield

Roger L. Simmons

Nathanael A. Skellenger

William A. Thompson

Kevin W. Varner

James W. Vesser

Marcus A. Waltenburg

Rachel A. Warren

Joseph W. Whitehead, II

Christopher J. Whitfield

Donald J. Zerillo

                       

William H. Smith, III – transferred from General Government

 

Motion:  Mr. York made a motion to approve these applications for enrollment in the Plan C pension system.  Mr. Hackney seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

WITHDRAWALS:

The following employees have filed an application to withdraw employee pension contributions plus 4% interest and the supplemental retirement account as applicable in Plan G Option 1.

                       

                        Rebecca Allender, General Govt. – G1; Non-vested

                        Timothy A. Bogan, General Govt. – G1; Non-vested

                        Amanda Bowness, General Govt. – G1; Non-vested

                        Tracy Isenberg, General Govt. – G1; Vested

                        Samuel Richmond, General Govt. – G1; Non-vested

Rebecca Vittetoe, Schools – Plan A; Non-vested                       

 

Motion:  Mr. York made a motion to approve these applications for withdrawal of employee contributions.  Mr. Hackney seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

APPLICATION FOR DEFERRED RETIREMENT:  PLAN A

CHARTER SECTION 1360.28

 

            Robert W. Walton, Schools Certified                                              Option A-9

                                                                                                                        100% with reinstatement

            Date of birth, September 23, 1947:  62 years of age

            Total City credited service:  12 yrs.

            Total County credited service:  10 year

Total credited service:  22 years

Last date of employment with City:  June 1987

Last date of employment with County:  June 1998

Average base earnings for 4 years, $400.00 x 75% = $3.00

Average excess earnings for 4 years, $1,515.73 x 1.50% = $22.74

making a total of $25.74 benefit per year of service.  $25.74 x 12 =

$308.88.  Mr. Walton chose Option A-9 – 100% Joint and Survivor with reinstatement to Gwendolyn H. Walton, spouse.  $308.88 x .7928 =

 $244.88 pension effective October 1, 2009

 

            The City benefit payment is determined using City only salaries and City service       time.

            The City benefit does not include any County service.

            The total amount of the combined City and County benefit is $1,048.94.

 

Motion:  Mr. Huthens made a motion to approve this application for deferred retirement payable under Option A-9.  Mr. Hackney seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

           

APPLICATION FOR NORMAL RETIREMENT:  PLAN C

CHARTER SECTION 1390.6

 

            Robert L. Hubbs, Police Department - Uniformed                        No Option

            Date of birth, September 27, 1959:  50 years of age

            Total credited service:  30 years 9 months 5 days

            Average monthly salary for 2 highest 12 month periods, $5,121.87 x 2.5% =

            $128.05 x 30 =

            $3,841.50 pension effective October 1, 2009.

 

Motion:  Mr. Coker made a motion to approve this application for normal retirement.  Mr. Hutchens seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE DELAYED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM (DROP):  PURSUANT TO CHARTER SECTION 1371.8 – PLAN G.

The following employee has chosen a Delayed Retirement Option and will receive a one-time payment of the accumulated monthly benefits on termination of employment with the City of Knoxville.

 

            Donna R. Young, General Government – Plan G2                        No Option

            Date of birth, June 19, 1945:  64 years of age

            Total credited service:  14 years 11 months 25 days

            Average monthly salary for 2 highest 12 month periods, $3,799.25 x 2.1% =

            $79.78 x 14.98516

            $1,195.52 pension effective October 1, 2009.

            DROP complete September 30, 2011.

 

Motion:  Ms. Shelton made a motion to approve this application for DROP retirement. Mr. York seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

APPROVAL OF INVOICES FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: 

           

Bryan, Pendleton, Swats & McAllister – Actuary (August 2009)               $6,565.00

Kennerly,Montgomery & Finley – Attorney (General – August 2009)     4,481.90                     State Street – Trustee (August 2009)                                                           3,416.52                               

Mr. Cherry, Executive Director, has reviewed the bills and certifies that they are consistent with the services provided and are within the budgeted figures of the system’s financial plan.

 

Motion:  Mr. York made a motion to pay these invoices.  Mr. Coker seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

APPROVAL OF REVISED AGENDA:  Exhibit 1

 

The Revised Agenda was approved without objection.

 

ATTORNEY COMMENTS:

 

            Personnel Committee Report

           

Attorney Gilbert distributed to the Board the August 13, 2009, and September 10, 2009, meeting minutes of the Pension Board for review and noted the revised sections regarding the actions taken by the personnel committee at those meetings.

 

Investment Policy

 

Attorney Gilbert advised the Board that the requested action of City Council to amend the Investment Policy had been deferred two weeks in order for Mr. York and Mr. Cherry to meet with council members to discuss the proposed changes.

 

             

APPROVAL OF REVISED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FOR August 13, 2009.

 

Mr. Hutchens made a motion to approve the revised, August 13, 2009, meeting minutes.  Mr. Hackney seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FOR September 10, 2009.

 

Mr. Hutchens made a motion to approve the September 10, 2009, meeting minutes.  Ms. Shelton seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

 

CONTRACTS:  None

 

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:

           

             

Actuary Presentation

 

Mr. Alan Pennington and Ms. Meghan Scott - Bryan, Pendleton, Swats & McAllister presented the actuarial valuation as of July 1, 2009. 

 

Mr. Coker left the meeting at 8:40 a.m. and returned at 9:20 a.m. during the actuary presentation.

 

 

After a brief recess the meeting resumed.

 

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS:

 

            Acadian Asset Management

 

Mr. Cherry advised the Board that the emerging markets contract with Acadian Asset Management, hired by the Board in May, was ready for signatures, and the first installment from Silchester International Investors had been received for the initial funding of this new account.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

 

Richard Woodby  – Exhibit 2

 

General Government employees, Mr. Richard Woodby and Mr. David Walton attended the meeting and had a discussion with the Board regarding the charter provisions for reemployment and reinstatement of prior service, Charter Section 1350.9.  Mr. Gilbert will prepare a letter responding to their concerns regarding the subject charter provisions.

 

G1 Member Complaint – Exhibit 3

 

Attorney Gilbert reviewed with the Board additional information he had received from Attorney Al Holifield regarding the draft complaint he has submitted to Attorney Gilbert for the 31 Plan G1 members represented by Attorney Holifield.  Attorney Gilbert advised the Board that additional research was needed before he could respond to Attorney Holifield, the Pension Board and the affected G1 members.

 

INVESTMENT MATTERS:

           

            Dan Holmes – Summit Strategies

 

                        Cadogan Management

 

Investment Consultant, Mr. Dan Holmes made the Board aware of his concerns regarding the resignation of the four principal managers of the Cadogan Alternative Strategies Fund (CAST). Mr. Holmes further asked that the Pension Board authorize the Executive Director, Michael Cherry, to submit a full redemption request of the system’s investment in this fund prior to the end of October subject to such a recommendation from Summit Strategies.

 

Mr. Hutchens made a motion authorizing the Executive Director to submit a redemption request to Cadogan Management LLC at such time Summit Strategies recommends that such a request is prudent.  Mr. Coker seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

State Street Securities Lending

 

Mr. Holmes discussed his concerns over recent news reports regarding issues with State Street’s Securities Lending activities.

 

Mr. York made a motion, upon the recommendation of Summit Strategies, to defer funding of the State Street TIPS investment and to direct Summit Strategies to continue to monitor the State Street situation and to also review and present search recommendations for another TIPS provider as a possible replacement.  Mr. Coker seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

STW

 

Mr. Holmes discussed STW’s recommendation to adopt the Barclay’s Long Government/Credit Index.  Mr. Cherry also requested that Mr. Holmes confirm whether STW’s investment in certain Bank of America bonds as reported on STW’s bond downgrade report were in compliance with the Investment Policy.

 

Mr. York made a motion, upon the recommendation of Summit Strategies, to change the STW Index to the Barclay’s Long Government/Credit Index effective November 1, 2009.  Mr. Hackney seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

 

OTHER:  None

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further business, the following motion was made:

 

Motion:  Ms. Shelton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:22 p.m.  Mr. Hackney seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously by the members present.

 

 

                                                                                                            ___________________

                                                                                                            Chair

 

 

                                                                                                            ____________________

                                                                                                            Date

 

 

 

 

 

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