TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY
Special Meeting
June 2, 2006

The Special Meeting of the Township Committee was held this date at the Municipal/Police Building located on Little Philadelphia Road.  The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor David Dempski.

SUNSHINE LAW COMPLIANCE - The Mayor noted that this meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Law of 1975 in as much as a notice had been published in the Star Gazette and transmitted to the Express Times and posted at the municipal building.

ROLL CALL: Horensky, present; Kovacs, present; Mueller, present; Strunk, present; Dempski, present. Township Clerk Mary Ann O’Neil and Jo Ann Fascenelli, Treasurer were also present.

DISCUSSION ON EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS
The Mayor said the Special Meeting was to discuss changes to the Employee Health Insurance Plan, as well as sign vouchers to pay said plan.

Strunk said there had been concern because they thought the Township  would have difficulty with the implementation of some of the points that were brought out by the carrier Sweatt and Walters.  There had been a meeting with himself, Horensky, Fascenelli, Stanchina and two representatives from the insurance carrier.  The  results were that the third party carrier is going to prefund the debit card, because the employees is a small group.   They have been asked to forward this information to the Township in writing, which has been done.  Strunk said the Committee can now can carry through with insurance plan that was presented to the employees on how the debit card is used.   Also,  how information that the employees have to give to the Hospital for co-payments, which will be sent to Trans-Connect for the employee to be reimbursed.   The charges that are made by co-pay will be sent to the Township, by monthly bill, that will be sent the Thursday prior to the Township Meeting to be paid.  All activities will be put on a statement.  After the meeting, the money due will be transferred electronically to reimburse them.

Strunk said there had been concern about misuse of the debit card.  The Third Party Carrier and the Township will be reviewing the list.    Ed Glynn, Township Attorney,  had been directed to write memo to the employees discussing this and if there would be abuse of the debit card, they will have to make restitution or privileges will be revoked for them until the issue is resolved. 

Strunk said, on Eye-Vision, the plan will be equal to the 2004 Plan that had been provided to employees by the Township.

Horensky said Glynn had been directed to do a memo to the employees,  which had been done in draft form and submitted to him and Strunk for comment.  They both made comments on it and returned it to him to finalize.   Fascenelli’s name was to be removed as contact person.   Any contacts, with regard to Trans Connect, go directly to them.  Any contact that have to be made with regard to debit card go directly to Key Benefits Administration in Minneapolis.   Horensky said once Fascanelli gets everybody’s language it can be inserted into the memo to make it clearer. Horensky said the vision is also by debit card.   The Township did not fund any vision last year.  There was no vision costs to the Township, Sweatt and Walters paid for the plan.  The last vision contract the Committee had goes back to 2004 and that is the plan that is being provided now.   Horensky said if their is misuse of the card, it would be forfeited, but it was made clear that the forfeiture of the card did not forfeit the benefits.  Anyone that misuses the card will revert back to the old system to get their benefit reimbursement.   Horensky said the debit card is a trial for this year.  There was discussion about putting language together about misuse of the card and the penalty for misuse of the card.  Horensky said the language in draft memo reads, there will be a debit card to be utilized only for prescriptions and doctor’s office/emergency room co-pays.  Over-the-counter medications are not covered by this plan. This is a very narrow use that must be completely adhered to by all Township employees.  They would be responsible  for any non-allowed charges and if the Committee determines that the debit card usage is being abused, the Committee reserves the right to forfeit an employee’s debit card and related privileges, and the employee will be required to submit forms for reimbursement and wait for Committee approval, as in prior years.  The debit card concept will be utilized on a trial basis for the rest of 2006 and the Committee will then decide, at that time, whether to continue this procedure.  Horensky suggested that a line be put in that any employee would be subject to  other disciplinary  action, as the Committee deems appropriate.

Strunk said, vouchers will have to be signed this evening, to go forward with this contract. 

PAYMENT OF BILLS
Horensky made a motion to approve the bills for the new insurance plan, Strunk seconded.  All were in favor.

Horensky made a motion to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.,Strunk seconded.  All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Ann O’Neil  RMC/CMC
Township Clerk