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Tiverton firefighters ask to enroll in state temporary disability insurance; council asks staff for review
Summary
Firefighters' union president requested enrollment in Rhode Island’s Temporary Disability Insurance program; the town administrator, treasurer and solicitor advised that enrollment would require town-level action, likely contract amendment and townwide consideration. Council authorized staff to explore details with the state and labor counsel.
Lieutenant Barbosa, president of Tiverton Firefighters Local 1703, requested that town firefighters be enrolled in the Rhode Island Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program. Barbosa told the council that the town’s TDI status had last been updated in 1978 and that firefighters were not listed as enrolled. He asked the council to approve a resolution or minutes needed by the state to enroll firefighters or update the town’s coverage record.
Councilors and staff discussed implementation mechanics. The treasurer and town administrator said the employee cost is borne by employees via payroll deduction but that municipal enrollment and administration require formal action and coordination with the town’s labor negotiator and solicitor. The town administrator advised that any change likely must be implemented through contract amendment or an MOU because it would apply to multiple employee groups, and warned that once the town extends a benefit to one bargaining unit, other units may request it.
Staff recommended that the council authorize the administrator to work with the firefighters’ union, the treasurer, and labor counsel to gather details from the state Department of Labor and Training and return with legal and financial recommendations; the council agreed to that approach. The solicitor and administrator advised caution: while TDI can be low-cost, private insurance sometimes provides broader coverage for incapacity and “own-occupation” protections that may better serve long-term disabled employees. The council did not take immediate action to enroll firefighters but directed staff to report back after discussions with state and labor counsel.
No vote on enrollment was taken; staff and union will meet and present options and required contract changes to council for future action.
