City Council Executive Session
Monday, March 21, 2005
The Mt. Vernon City Council met in Executive Session on Monday, March 21, 2005, at 7:37 p.m. in the office at Veterans Park.
The purpose of this meeting was for Discussion of Personnel.
Present were: Council Member Ricky D. heck, Council Member John Howard, Council Member David E. Keen, Council Member Mike Walker and Mayor Milton R. Sees. Also present were: City Clerk Jackie Sharp, City Manager Roy l. Payne. City Attorney David R. Leggans, Assistant City Manager Mary Ellen Futransky and Human Resources Director Mary Jo Pemberton.
City Manager Roy L. Payne reported that Human Resource Director Mary Jo Pemberton had been working with Julia Goree of Tedrick Employee benefits, Inc. trying to find suitable, affordable insurance for the City employees. Mr. Payne introduced Ms. Pemberton and asked her to explain the process that she has been going through.
Ms. Pemberton stated that the BCBS health insurance that the employees are now covered under has increased their premium by 41%, they later came back with a 32% increase.
Mrs. Pemberton stated that 13 companies were contacted. Eight of the companies declined to submit a quote for coverage. Three of the companies came in higher than BCBS.
A company named Health Alliance came in with a 31 ½ % increase over BCBS current rate. Ms. Pemberton stated that the coverage is comparable to the BCBS coverage with some minor difference. Ms. Pemberton explained the co-pay difference, the PPO differences and the mail order for prescriptions.
Ms. Pemberton stated that the policy meets the union contract obligations for coverage for the employees.
City Manager Roy l. Payne stated that this needs to be done by April15, 2005 if Council agrees to the changes.
Council went back into Open Session at 7:50 p.m.