FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to accept amended wording on a provision for employee health insurance buyouts, clarifying to indicate the buyout is for the employee.
Selectmen tabled a discussion at the last meeting for more information, after a few employees questioned the interpretation of the policy. They believed the buyout option also pertained to their spouses and dependents.
There are only three employees who have been collecting the buyout for their spouses over the past year to a year and a half maximum, Town Manager Richard Davis said.
Other employees receive the buyout but are on their spouse’s insurance. They do not receive town insurance, he said.
The town pays 80 percent of the cost for full-time employees enrolled in the Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust C plan. The town also pays 55 percent of the cost of dependent coverage.
If the employee should choose an insurance plan other than that provided by the town, the town pays the employee 40 percent of the 80 percent cost they would have paid, based on the employee providing proof of comparable health insurance, according to the town’s personnel policy.
It now reads, in part, “In order to take advantage of this buyout the employee must not retain any portion of the town provided plan.”
Selectmen voiced concern for the three employees who remained on town insurance and interpreted their right to collect for spouses who have other insurance.
Selectmen believe the wording is now clear.
In other business, selectmen cast a final vote to also pass on the retail recruitment services of the Texas-based Buxton Group.
The board previously voted to join with Jay, Livermore Falls and Wilton if at least two of them were also interested and willing to split the cost of $50,000 a year for three years. Each of the other towns voted to pass on the recruitment services at this time.
The board planned a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, to review the 2017 department budget requests before the Budget Committee starts its review Wednesday, Jan. 4.
Nomination papers for two positions on the Board of Selectmen and two Regional School Unit 9 directors will be available Friday, Dec. 30, Davis said.
The three-year terms of Selectmen Stephan Bunker and Andrew Buckland expire in 2017.
The three-year terms of RSU 9 directors Tami Labul and Ryan Morgan also expire in 2017.
abryant@sunmediagroup.net
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