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Council approves affiliate agreement allowing Union Fire District to join town health pool
Summary
Council voted to permit the Union Fire District to affiliate with the town's Rhode Island Trust health pool; UFD will pay its own premiums but become part of the pooled claims experience. Council conditioned the approval on an annual report and manager's execution of the agreement.
The council approved an affiliate agreement allowing the Union Fire District (UFD) to participate in the town's health benefits pool administered by the Rhode Island Trust. Town leaders said UFD has a small number of employees (three to six full-time positions discussed) and that affiliate status would let those employees access pooled purchasing benefits while paying their own premiums.
Town staff explained the risks and benefits: adding small groups to a larger pool can smooth rates when claims are low but could marginally affect experience rating if a high-cost claim occurs. Staff said the Trust did not express concern that UFD would move the town's premiums materially. The agreement includes the town's standard withdrawal provisions; staff and council added a direction that UFD provide an annual April 1 report with enrolled members so the town and Trust can monitor any impacts.
Council approved the manager's execution of the agreement with the condition of an annual report and reserved the council's right to terminate affiliation with appropriate notice.
What happens next: the town manager will execute the affiliate agreement; UFD will enroll eligible employees and the town will receive annual reporting on enrollment and claims experience for monitoring.
