It looks like council and active staff members here will be getting benefits just a bit longer.
On June 6, council endorsed a report by town manager Lisa Hass that will increase the “termination” age for health, and dental benefits from 65 to 70 years.
Hass said the request came from “a couple of council members” to look at the possibility of changing the age.
She noted preliminary investigation suggested current premiums would not be affected unless council also increased travel benefits as well.
Finance director Sharon Marshall said the day prior to the meeting, she received new information from the town’s Manulife Insurance agent with the estimated cost to increase the coverage to age 70.
“As it turns out, if we keep all the benefits the same (but extending them to age 70), the total impact for the year would only be $323.”
Councillor Barb Tocher said that is the equivalent of $9.23 per employee.
Marshall explained the benefit extension would be for active employees. “It seems really bizarre to me, since that is not what they told us in the seminar in November.”
Councillor Josie Wintersinger said when she had a prescription filled earlier that day, and her card did not work.
Marshall said the types benefits past age 70 have only recently come into practice, and two years ago, most insurance providers did not even offer the additional benefits.
Tocher suspected part of that comes down to there no longer being a mandatory retirement age. “Many people do work past the age of 65. You’d be surprised statistically how many people will be working past the age of 65.”
Wintersinger asked how long it would take to reinstate the card, if council chose to make the change.
Marshall assumed the town would be able to make it retroactive to the beginning of June, but did not know how much beyond that would be allowed.
Mayor Lou Maieron said a similar move on benefits was made at the county – for councillors only. “We didn’t do it for staff – for a number of reasons.”
He said in other places, the move was made for councillors only, because councillors tend to be a more senior group.
“But there is also a question of fairness across the board.”
Tocher advocated extending the benefits.
“If our employees choose to work past the age of 65, why should they treated differently than the ones who are 64.”
Council agreed to extend the benefits to active employees and councillors.
