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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 01/27/1982CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 27, 1982 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, January 27, 1982 at 7:30 pm in the City Hall Mini-conference Room, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, William Burgess, Hugh Marvin Member Absent Martin Paulsen Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; David Minnich, Assistant City Manager; Police Chief Richard Carter, Brian Searles, Ray Stearns Discuss Special Election in March Mr. Szymanski said there was to be a special election in March on an item regarding bail. He was asked if the city could vote on it in May, when it has a ballot planned, but replied that the city could not do that. The Secretary of State has had ballots made and will send them to the city for it to use. Mr. Marvin noted that the warning was not at all clear as to what people would be voting on and he felt that the city's representatives to the State Legislature should have told that body that South Burlington's election is in May, not March. Mr. Flaherty moved that, based on the City Attorney's recommendation, the Council sign the warning. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and it carried with all in favor. Mr. Marvin felt the representatives should be sent a letter suggesting that in cases like this the elections be held in November, when everyone has one. Discuss response to the police union requests Mr. Szymanski said he had asked the city's insurance agent, Mr. Stearns, to be here tonight to discuss the insurance costs in the contract proposal. Mr. Farrar noted that the dental plan had been changed last year and that the police had not felt it was as good as the previous one. Mr. Stearns said the old plan was one of scheduled benefits, where the employees pay a certain amount for each procedure. That plan has been in effect for about 5 years and the charges have been outgrown by the dentist charges. Thus, last year the plan went to a deductible for class 2, 3 and 4 services with no deductible for preventative work. He noted that initial claims submitted by policemen had had the $25 deductible taken out. Since the department is young, in most cases, they only make one trip to the dentist per year and have only minor work done. Mr. Stearns said he had given figures on going back to the old plan to Mr. Szymanski. Mr. Stearns noted that with the present group medical coverage the city had, it was assured of increasing medical care costs because doctors and hospitals were charging more and that was making premiums rise. He felt there was no incentive for cost containment in first dollar coverage and he mentioned a change to comprehensive coverage with a deductible and then 80%-20% payments up to a certain figure per year, after which the payments would be 100%. He felt a policy like that would eliminate overutilization and abuse of the plan. Mr. Farrar asked if the premiums were experience premiums for the city and was told they were not and Mr. Stearns was not sure it would be a good idea to do it that way. Mr. Szymanski said the increase was going to be 28% this year. Mr. Stearns said the city's plan already covered prescription drugs and he had failed to find any reference to chiropractors one way or the other, but if they are licensed physicians, they are covered. Mr. Burgess asked him to check specifically on this. The prescription drugs are covered under major medical. Mr. Stearns said that if all the things not under major medical were added, he felt it would produce a 15% increase. Mr. Szymanski thought it would cost the city $600-700 to remove the deductible from the dental plan. He was asked what it would cost to add the three riders to the policy that the police were requesting. As far as liability, Mr. Szymanski said the city had a $1/2 million per person plus $2 million umbrella policy. He was asked to see what the umbrella policy would pick up under several foreseeable situations, such as several officers being involved in one case. Mr. Flaherty asked whether legal fees would be deducted from the $2 million, but Mr. Stearns did not think so. Mr. Stearns said he would meet with Mr. Szymanski to come up with some firm figures. Disability insurance was discussed. Mr. Stearns said he would find out what Workmen's Compensation would pay for and he would find out the coverage for employees which is already in plans the city pays for. Disability off the job would cost at least $8600 per year for the whole city. Mr. Burgess asked for the cost for the police department only. Mr. Stearns noted that sick pay was not handled uniformly in the city. The pension plan was discussed. Mr. Stearns recommended dropping the current carrier and going to another. Because of restrictions on the money, it will take about 4 years to remove all the funding, but it will not affect anyone now retired or anyone who is vested in the plan. Mr. Stearns felt better interest could be earned elsewhere. He also mentioned making structural changes to the plan, such as a dollar purchase concept, whereby employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the pension plan, and whatever that figure grows to, they have when they retire. Mr. Searles noted that there might be some changes made to the police retirement system in the near future at the State level. Mr. Stearns felt the fiscal year for the pension plan should be the same as the city's. Mr. Stearns said he would meet with Mr. Szymanski to tie up the loose ends here. Meet in Executive Session to discuss police contract Mr. Flaherty moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the police department contract. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and all voted for it. At 11:30 pm the Council came out of executive session and adjourned Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.