2007-09-26-TPT-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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TOWN OF LEXINGTON TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC TRUSTS Minutes of Meeting September 26, 2007 The meeting was held at the offices of Atlantic Trust at 100 Federal Street, Boston, at 12:45 P. M. Present were Alan Fields, Thomas Taylor and David Williams. The Trustees discussed the decline in the market value of the Cary Library Foundation fund as the result of investment by State Street in a fund which had exposure to sub- prime mortgage bonds. The discussion was tabled until the State Street people arrived. The following persons from SSgA joined the meeting: Dennis Dywer, who introduced the new team handling our account; Patrick Doyle, Administrative Contact, Craig McCulluogh, Investment Contact, and Clare Boretti, Gift Annuity Contact. Team Leader, Joanne Pipkin, was not present. The portfolio as of 8/31/07 was reviewed. Dennis pointed out that the SSgA Small Cap Fund had underperformed the benchmark. In reviewing the setup of the Cary Library funds it was decided to name these two funds "Cary Memorial Library Foundation Restricted Fund" and "Cary Memorial Library Foundation Unrestricted Fund ". State Street was asked to include in the reports a list of the individual stocks and bonds in the cemetery funds, as had been done previously. Discussion turned to the loss during August and September in the library fund. The fund balance declined by about $19,000 since it was wired to State Street in early July. Dennis said it was invested in a triple A rated short term fixed income fund. The problem was that the fund also held some mortgage securities subject to sub -prime risk. Alan pointed out that it was our long -held policy to invest the cash portion of our funds only in government or agency bonds with a short maturity, and that State Street knew this. We would never have approved investment in a vehicle with any measure of risk. Clare Boretti outlined how State Street can provide a gift annuity program to the library foundation which should be of interest to some donors. Alan is to arrange a presentation to the library trustees. After the departure of the State Street people it was decided that Alan would write a letter to State Street expressing our displeasure with the way the library funds were invested upon receipt from Morgan Stanley. It was decided to sell the small cap fund from the investment fund. With respect to the library funds it was decided to create a portfolio of 50% equities and 50% fixed income. The fixed income portion will consist of 20% Pimco All Asset Fund, 15% cash and the rest in short term government and agency bonds. Alan will work out a program with State Street to invest the equity portion in high yielding stocks. Tom Taylor, Secy