Lambertville council approves move from State Health Benefits Plan to Central Jersey regional fund

The council unanimously adopted resolutions directing the city to end participation in the State Health Benefits Plan and to join the Central Jersey Regional Employee Benefit Fund. The resolutions (recorded as adopted in sequence) also named the mayor as the city's commissioner to the new fund and an alternate commissioner to serve in the mayor’s absence.

In remarks recorded before the vote, staff described months of outreach: individualized spreadsheets were sent to employees and retirees comparing costs across three alternatives, and at least one employee meeting (Jan. 8) was held with brokers and staff present. Officials said the state plan faces large projected premium increases (the record cites increases that staff described as 36.5% this year and higher in following years), and that the regional fund's initial proposals showed lower near‑term increases.

Staff and council members emphasized the city will continue implementation work with detailed employee briefings: paperwork to terminate the state's plan will be submitted, indemnity and trust agreements will be signed, and implementation meetings with the fund and benefit operations are expected in early February to manage the employee transition.

The mayor and HR lead (Sue Bacorn) said retirees would retain the same carrier (recorded as Aetna in the meeting) and that an implementation team will assist employees who face difficulty changing plans. The council asked for follow-up reporting on actual cost savings and the transition process after implementation.

No named roll-call tally was recorded in the public minutes; the measure passed by voice vote after motions and seconds were offered.