Finance Committee - 07/10/2019 Page 6
Mayor Donchess
Well | consider a half a million or a million to be quite a bit of money. Alderwoman Gathright did you have your
hand up?
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
My question is have you spoke to any of the employees about this Smart Program?
Mr. Budreau
Yes.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Did they seem to want to take the opportunity to search for medical care themselves?
Mr. Budreau
Yes. And in fact we know anecdotally that we had particularly members of the School District, teachers in
particular, | understand that teachers sometimes almost wait until the end of the School Year to have elective
medical procedures done. So we know that we have people on the Smart Shopper Web Site before it was
actually open to us so that they were able to take advantage of this program immediately on July 1°.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Thank you.
Alderman O’Brien
Is this a totally elective type of program or is it going to become mandatory for our employees to do the Smart
Shopper?
Mr. Budreau
It is totally elective now and | would anticipate that it would be, no one has suggested otherwise.
Alderman O’Brien
Follow up if | may, we have several Labor Unions out there that write contracts with the City and | know health
care is part of the contractual agreement. | know Alderman Gathright did ask about the employees but as far
as those under current labor agreements and what the feeling of the Labor Unions with this particular
program?
Mr. Budreau
We didn’t seek the Union’s opinion specifically but most of the employees who attended our open enrollment
meeting sessions were members of Unions. And because of its elective nature and the fact that they can earn
money from it, they are going to still have to have that plus they can get some money, | would anticipate no
reason for them to be displeased.
Alderman O’Brien
Thank you.
