03-13-78 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

II REGULAR MEETING MARCH 13, 1978 REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED (CONTINUED The membership of the Police Department also has seen the bill for collective bargaining held up again in the Capital. The officers in our city have watched as the pension system was changed to their dissatisfaction and the bargaining bill that was to accompany it was also scrapped. These facts caused the membership to take action on their own, as you well remember, last year. Again, this committee must make it clear that we are only five (5) members of the mass and that we are servants of the whole. We have only the power to act as the majority dictates and we will abide by the wishes of that majority. If a job action is undertaken by the membership, then we will have no power to bring it to a halt. The responsibility, then, for a speedy, fair and equitable settlement of negotiations rest squarely on your shoulders. We do not expect a proposa for benefits and wages from you in a week or ten (10) days, we do however, ask that you reply to this committee within a reasonable length of time so that we might present this proposal to the entire membership. I remain sincerely yours." /s /Herbert E. Pletcher, Chairman 1978 Wage Committee Mr. Tom Cressy, 1113 Edison Road, indicated he was speaking as a citizen and a taxpayer. He stated he had several questions regarding the City's health insurance plan. He questioned why they did not request insurance bids before the rates went up in October; why the City had an- nounced there was a nineteen percent increase in rates, when in fact the rate increase should have been thirty percent on the single and nineteen on family; why there was an announcement that the City was being taken off the twelve percent retention , to,.keep the rates down, when the CIty is on an eleven and one -half percent retention rate. He asked if there was any premium refunded on the retention, and that he would like to know where the money went. He asked if the City has had two rate increase. He indicated he had copies of cancelled checks for premium which differed as much as $10,000.. He asked why the City gave him a list of 2,800 people on the payrol when only 1,700 people were taking the insurance. He asked why he was charged $50 for a census list that should have been free. He asked why guidelines for bidding were set up after he had bid. He asked why the benefits of the insurance were not put in the newspaper. He asked why the guidelines stated to meet or beat specifications. He asked why the guidelines for bidding were set up based on the present carrier's coverage. Council President Parent indicated he was concerned that Mr. Cressy get answers to his questions. Council Member Adams indicated that Cor- porate Policyholders, the insurance consultants, should be submitting their report very shortly and when it comes back she would have a committee meeting. Council Member Kopczynski indicated he felt the Clerk's office should direct these questions to the Controller and request an answer within ten days after receipt, and 'after.:that= she Council committee will meet. City Attorney, Tom Brunner, asked Mr. Cressy if he was an agent for National Life. Mr. Cressy indicated he did not want to answer that question, he said he was here as a citizen. NEW_ BUS INES.S . ; Council Member Adams requested that the Clerk's office write a memo to the Controller indicating that the Vehicle Study report should be filed in the Clerk's office by April 1, so the Council can review it prior to the April 10 meeting, when there is an appropriation bill set for hearing to purchase more vehicles. Council Member Serge made a motion to recommend to the Mayor that William Welsheimer be re- appointed to the Redevelopment Board of Trustees, seconded by Council Member Horvath. The motion carried. Mr. Brunner, City Attorney, indicated that some of Mr. Cressy's questions were in the form of statements, and they would be very difficult to answer. Mrs. Gammon, City Clerk, indicated that her office would do a verbatim from the tape and send the verbatim to the Controller. Mr. Michael Carrington, Assistant to the Mayor, indicated he resented Mr. Cressy's statements of impropriety. Council Member Dombrowski indicated he thought that Mr. Cressy should send the Council a letter with all the questions listed. He said this would be a more businesslike manner. There being no further business to come before the Council, unfinished or new, Council Member Adams made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. The motion carried and meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Presi n