Laserfiche WebLink
I <br />I <br />! <br />1 <br /> <br />Case#4: Consider Negotiated Proposal Increasing City Contribution to <br /> Employee Health Care Coverage <br /> <br />Administrative Services Manager Waite Smith stated there have been a lot of questions <br />about how the City handles insurance. She reported that if an employee is covered by <br />insurance through, for example, their spouse's place of employment, they could elect to <br />receive cash for the benefit instead. She stated that she reviewed information back to <br />1991, and it has been handled this way for at least that long. She added that making a <br />change to this is not part of the re-opening language - only the family coverage portion <br />can be re-opened. The family coverage portion was done this way because of the rapid <br />changes to the cost, etc. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec did not feel it would be fair to just take this benefit away from the <br />employee - if it is taken away, something else should be done in its place. He felt <br />strongly that it should not change for the existing people but that something could be <br />done'differently for new employees. <br /> <br />Ms. Waite Smith reminded Mayor Gamec that this particular item cannot be renegotiated <br />until the next contract negotiation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that "things are being taken away all over the place", <br />and that if this benefit is taken away, it would save the City a lot of money. She <br />suggested that the City should not agree to pay for half the increase for family coverage. <br />That would get the Union's attention, then you could pay for half at negotiation time. <br />She suggested the current policy is a bad one. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer realized this benefit is rather unique to Ramsey but added that <br />other cities do not pay 100% of the health coverage. She felt there are several options to <br />be looked at. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec reiterated his feelings about the people who have been on this program for <br />ten to fifteen years. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen felt that the Council needs to figure out a way to get the <br />Union's attention. <br /> <br />Motion by Mayor Gamec and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to recommend Council <br />pay 25% of the increased cost for health coverage. <br /> <br />Motion failed. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec. Voting No: Councilmember Beyer. <br />Absent: None. <br /> <br />It was noted that the Personnel Committee would bring this case to Council without a <br />recommendation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer stated she is in favor of paying the 50%. <br /> <br />Personnel Committee/November 24, 1998 <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br /> <br />,97 <br /> <br /> <br />