Board of Aldermen 3-31-2020 Page 14
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
OK well | will just stop at this point because | see where we are going. | am against this. And | will not vote for
it.
President Wilshire
Are you all set Alderman Gathright?
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Yes, | am thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Who else would like to speak? Alderman Dowd?
Alderman Dowd
Just a couple questions, | am going to ask one ata time. First of all, | could be wrong but | think there are
already some people in the other unions that are already on the high deductible. In fact, | may be wrong, but |
think that half the fire department is on the high deductible is that correct?
Kim Kleiner, Admin. Services Director
That is correct.
Larry Budreau, Human Resources Director
May | respond?
Alderman Dowd
So it’s correct, thank you. It’s not just this 135 people that are going to be in the high deductible, we’ve
already had people start to change. So one of the questions | had from some of the non-affiliated is “why are
we paying them twice a year rather than putting all the money in July 1°” and they are also concerned that ok,
now that’s two times, it could change to three times and they are concerned about what documentation that
they are going to — like we said we would pay them over if they ran out. But they afraid that they are going to
provide serious documentation and it is going to take time. That’s the one portion that | would be OK with if
we Say it is a simple form and it happens quickly and they are not out on a limb with payments. And also the
other part of the question is, don’t we as a City keep track of every employee’s use of the funds and don’t, we
know when they are getting close?
Larry Budreau, Human Resources Director
Thank you, Alderman Dowd. You may have to remind me of a couple of the questions but to actually to start
and go backwards. No the City does not track the claims activity of the employees so we don’t have that
information in our system. We do get weekly bills but they are only segregated between the School and the
City. The purpose for splitting the contributions into two segments is that, on occasion, it doesn’t happen a lot
but on occasion someone will come and join the City and we will pay them $3,000.00 on July 1* and then
they won’t stay very long. It creates two problems — one is it makes you feel that you’ve been taken
advantage of and that’s not a comfortable feeling. And the other is and | can’t speak eloquently on it right
now but you have to be a high deductible health plan in order to have so much money in a health savings
account. If someone goes in and doesn’t stay for very long and they leave and we’ve given them $3,000.00
