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Unions urge caution as Plant Moran, incumbent, stresses ACA reporting and continuity
Summary
Union leaders and the city—s counsel asked Dearborn Heights to include unions in the consultant review and warned that rushed platform changes could jeopardize retiree reporting; incumbent Plant Moran offered fee guarantees and compliance safeguards.
Union leaders and city counsel urged caution as the council auditioned benefits consultants on Nov. 18, highlighting the complexity of the city—s multi‑unit bargaining structure and the compliance work that underpins retiree reporting.
Jonathan Triomphe of Plant Moran, the incumbent advisor, told council that Plant Moran handles ACA reporting, benefits administration and the city—s current platform and said the firm would reduce its invoiced fee dollar‑for‑dollar if the city no longer required the vendor to pay for that platform. "If we don't have to pay for that platform anymore, we will absolutely reduce our fee dollar for dollar, and we will put that in writing," Triomphe said, adding that any transition requires a detailed plan to avoid data interruptions.
Chief counsel and union representatives asked that the unions receive the bidders' materials for review and warned that changes made without careful review could be disruptive to employees and retirees. The chief counsel told council: "Change simply for the sake of change can be catastrophic to a community," and asked that unions be included in the procurement review and provided the information the council had received.
Presenters acknowledged collective‑bargaining constraints and said they routinely work with bargaining units during design and bargaining. Councilors acknowledged the concerns and said the presentations are an informational step before staff returns a recommendation and the council considers contracts in public session.
