Northvale council adopts resolution to leave state health plan, pending union sign-offs

The Borough of Northvale—s mayor and council adopted a special-resolution measure to end the borough—s participation in the state health benefits plan and seek coverage under a plan offered by New Jersey Solutions, subject to written approvals from affected unions and state notice requirements.

Municipal staff told the council the change is intended to avoid a steeper increase under the state plan. "If we stay with the state plan, we will probably go up 36 or 37% on our health care. If we move to the NJ Solutions plan, it's a 13% increase," the staff member said, adding that the borough would therefore save roughly 24% relative to the state plan.

The staff member estimated the savings at about $100,000 to $120,000 annually but cautioned that the borough would still face an overall 13% increase in premiums under the proposed plan. The staff member also said the benefits would remain "equal, apples to apples," and that the same Blue Cross Blue Shield provider would be used.

The resolution (listed as No. 141 in the meeting) was structured so the switch is contingent on written approvals from the affected unions. Municipal staff reported that the Department of Public Works Teamsters union had emailed its approval the same day, while the borough was still awaiting written approval from the police union. Staff said, to make a Jan. 1 switch the borough would need written union approvals by Friday, Oct. 31 so the state receives the required 60 days— notice; otherwise the borough would have to resubmit and target a Feb. 1 effective date.

Council President McMorrow moved to adopt the resolution, and Councilwoman Fernandez seconded the motion. A roll call was taken; the transcript records at least Councilwoman Nomrow and Councilwoman Ofero saying "Yes." The full vote tally is not captured in the transcript.

The council opened the meeting to public comment and then closed the public portion; no substantive public remarks about the resolution were recorded in the provided transcript. With the written union approvals and state notice requirement outstanding, the resolution's implementation remains contingent on those administrative steps.

Next steps disclosed at the meeting: obtain written union approvals (police approval pending), meet the state's 60-day notice deadline to effectuate a Jan. 1 change, or, if the deadline is missed, resubmit to target a Feb. 1 effective date.