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Retired Kenilworth officers urge council to restore prior prescription benefits under county contract
Summary
Representatives of retired Kenilworth police officers urged the council to address changes to prescription benefits that retirees say mirror a new county police contract; they requested the borough seek a solution, including providing debit cards or vendor-based reimbursement to ease retirees' out-of-pocket costs.
John Zimmerman, speaking for retired Kenilworth police officers, told the Mayor and Council during public comment that retirees face new prescription burdens after the borough applied language from a recently negotiated county police contract to retirees.
Zimmerman said retirees were told the council police committee would attend an earlier meeting but that committee members were not present; he said retirees were told a follow-up meeting would be held April 22. He asked the mayor and council to help enforce prior contractual commitments to retirees and to consider providing debit cards or making the borough seek reimbursements directly from the borough’s vendor (referred to in the meeting as Point C) so retirees would not have to pursue reimbursement themselves. “We need your help and involvement…we need action done,” Zimmerman said.
The speaker said some retirees are “suffering” and noted retirees have not received a state cost-of-living allowance since February 2011; he urged the borough not to “turn your backs” and to restore what retirees had previously been provided. Council members responding at the meeting said a meeting was scheduled and that the council would continue discussions with retirees and their representatives.
Why it matters: The issue concerns retiree health benefits and the borough’s application of contract language affecting a vulnerable group of residents; the council acknowledged ongoing discussions and a follow-up meeting.
What’s next: Council members said they were in discussions with retirees’ representatives and expected follow-up at the scheduled meeting on April 22; staff and committee members said they were continuing negotiations.
