Health insurance deduction proposed for Sharon's nonunion employees

By Tom Davidson
Herald Staff Writer

SHARON February 15, 2007 10:50 pm

— The city’s nonunion employees and elected officials would be levied a $25 monthly payroll deduction for health insurance under a measure Sharon council introduced Thursday.
The move, which was approved unanimously on first reading, will affect about nine employees, Mayor Bob Lucas said.
It also will affect council members Victor Heutsche, Frank Connelly and Jennifer Barborak, along with Lucas, who would be covered under the city’s plan anyway because he’s a retired firefighter.
Council members Darrin Flower and Fred Hoffman use other health insurance.
Mrs. Barborak said she’s temporarily using the benefits and doesn’t support the fact that elected officials can take advantage of them. Most municipalities don’t offer such a perk to their elected leaders.
It’s a first step toward reducing the city’s health care costs, Lucas said. He has asked the city’s union employees to agree to the notion, but they haven’t.
The insurance costs the city about $3,000 a year for a single person, $8,000 a year for a couple and $10,500 for family coverage, Lucas said.
The city spends about $45,000 on the benefits for the employees affected by the proposal, according to city clerk Vikki Gruitza.