Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Orleans council approves 3.2% health-insurance renewal and OKs equipment purchase
Summary
The Town of Orleans voted to renew employee health coverage at an average 3.2% premium increase, accepted a new out-of-state emergency network from UnitedHealthcare, and approved a small equipment purchase after brief discussion about quality and shipping delays.
The Town of Orleans voted to renew its employee health-insurance plan at an average 3.2% premium increase and ratified a separate equipment purchase during its regular meeting.
Greg, who presented the renewal packet on behalf of the town, told the council the plan includes a change to UnitedHealthcare for out-of-state emergency care and a new, no-cost employee wellness counseling service called Trestle Tree. "Your rates are going up about 3.2% over last year's premium rates for the same package," Greg said, adding that pediatric vision coverage is included under ACA plans and adult voluntary vision premiums are unchanged.
A council member moved to renew the plan at the presented rate and the motion was seconded. The council approved the renewal by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript. The council directed staff to sign and return renewal paperwork so the insurer can begin issuing new ID cards with updated emergency-network information.
Council members also debated replacing a piece of public-works equipment after staff described shipping delays from one supplier. After members discussed durability versus cost and potential shipping surcharges, a motion to buy the higher-quality unit (including shipping) was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.
The council was briefed that the purchase is expected to solve an operational issue with the current unit’s up-and-down mechanism; staff noted the vendor had not yet provided a one-day shipping option on the quoted part. The transcript records only a voice vote; no individual tallies were recorded.
The meeting closed routine business items related to the insurance renewal and equipment purchase; staff were instructed to follow up with procurement and the insurer to finalize paperwork.
