THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2007

SPECIAL MEETING

6:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fix were present. No members were absent. Others present were Judy Gilleland, Tricia Sanders, Brian Sauer, Lynda Yartin, Phil Hartmann, Linda Fersch, Ed Drobina, Chris Schornack, Tim Hansley, and others.

2. SCHEDULED MATTERS:

A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to authorize the City Manager to enter into a one-year contract with Delta Dental of Ohio for dental insurance for City employees. Mrs. Fersch stated Delta Dental will renew our contract for another year at the same amount of $67.72 per month per employee. Mr. Smith moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sabatino, and Mr. Smith voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to authorize the City Manager to enter into a two-year contract with Jefferson Pilot Financial Insurance Company for life insurance for City employees. Mrs. Fersch stated the life insurance will be the same cost of $.21 per $1,000 and this is a two-year contract. Mr. Smith moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

C. Review and discussion regarding renewal of contract with Medical Mutual of Ohio for health insurance for City employees. Mrs. Fersch stated Medical Mutual will have a 12 percent increase in both the “Buy Up” plan and the “Core” plan. She stated the option of offering a Health Savings Account has been reviewed by the Insurance Review Committee with our insurance broker. Mrs. Fersch stated it is the recommendation that the option of a Health Savings Account be offered to the employees. Mrs. Fersch stated as approved last year the employee’s contribution for the “Buy Up” plan will increase to seven percent. Mrs. Fersch stated for the “Core” plan, the employees have been paying $2.00 for single and $5.00 monthly for family coverage, but due to the rate increase the recommendation is to raise the employee’s monthly contribution to $11 for single and $26 for family coverage. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a spreadsheet to the Committee showing the options offered, what the premium costs would be, what the total monthly and annual cost is, and the difference between the Core plan and the Buy Up plan that the City would have. Mrs. Fersch stated the high deductible savings plan would be $1,500 for single and $3,000 for family, maximum out of pocket. She stated after that everything would be paid at 100 percent. Mrs. Fersch stated on the Health Savings Account, the City would deposit a certain amount of money, and it was her recommendation that be $1,250 for single and $2,500 for family. She stated that meant the employees would be responsible for $250 and $500 out of pocket respectively. Mrs. Fersch stated an account would be established for each employee and this account would go with them if they leave the City and they can also add to the balance. Mrs. Fersch stated these funds can be used for any thing related to health, and it is tax exempt at the time it is set up. Mrs. Fersch stated some cities in the area are beginning this plan as well and they are funding the deductibles at 100 percent. Mrs. Fersch stated she would recommend funding a portion this year and then look at it next year. Mrs. Fersch stated she was requesting the approval of the Committee to include the option of the Health Savings Account this year. Mr. Fix stated if he understood it, with the Health Savings Account the City would save money and the employee would save money as well. Mr. Smith clarified the Health Savings Account would draw interest and the funds in the account do not expire; it can be carried over to the next year. Mr. Smith stated last year we were offered the option of a two-year contract or a one-year contract with Medical Mutual, and the two-year contract shielded us against increases. He stated we opted for the one-year contract, and questioned if that cost us in retrospect. Mrs. Fersch stated she could not give a positive answer, but she felt it probably did not, but she would get an answer to that. Mr. Smith ascertained the Committee was in favor of offering the option of the Health Savings Account to the employees. Mrs. Fersch stated the insurance legislation would include the options being offered to the employees. Mr. Sabatino ascertained we currently have eight employees who take the option of not taking insurance from the City because they have coverage through a spouse’s plan.

D. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Ohio Council 8, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, Local No. 1822, for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010, and the declaration of an emergency and immediate necessity so that employees may receive the pay increases effective with the 2008 payroll year commencing December 17, 2007. Mr. Smith stated everyone had received the information on the contract via e-mail today. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a brief summary of the changes in the tentative agreement. She reviewed these items and stated she would answer any questions anyone might have on these issues. Mrs. Fersch stated the contract was ratified by the Union and it must be voted on by Council tonight. Mr. Fix stated then Finance must act on it this evening and Council must also act on it this evening. Mrs. Fersch stated that was correct, and she would request three readings this evening, but it would not require emergency. Mr. Sabatino clarified Mrs. Fersch felt this was a fair contract. Mr. Smith clarified the financial items in the contract were included in the proposed 2008 budget. Mr. Smith moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

Mr. Smith stated Ms Gilleland would like to address one item this evening, and Mr. Hartmann has one item he would like to discuss. Ms Gilleland stated an individual in the community, Ms Lennie Male, had approached her regarding a “Pickerington Magazine.” Ms Gilleland stated many communities in the area have a “coffee table” quality magazine, put out by various companies. Ms Gilleland stated the magazine would contain several pages dedicated to City news, the community calendar, etc. She stated it would be all soft news, no political items, but happy positive news about the community. Ms Gilleland stated she felt this was a good idea and she had urged Ms Male to contact the Township and the School District because the entire community would benefit from this communication. Ms Gilleland stated Ms Male has now formulated her Board, and she has met with the Township and the Township is fully supportive of the idea. Ms Gilleland stated as an example, in the City of Dublin, the magazine has the statement on the cover that it is the “Official magazine of the City of Dublin,” and in return for that endorsement the magazine has provided the pages for free. Ms Gilleland stated Ms Male had indicated that if the City would provide that same type of endorsement there would be no talk about money. Ms Gilleland stated she was bringing it up this evening to see if the Committee was interested in endorsing this as the official magazine of the City. Mr. Smith stated if this were going to be the official publication of the City, he would suggest we have membership on their editorial board. Mr. Sabatino stated as long as we did not have to pay any money and we had some control of the contents, he did not see any problem with this.

Mr. Hartmann stated as the Committee is aware, the legal contract will be up at the end of the year, but there is a renewal clause as reported by Ms Gilleland. Mr. Hartmann stated he has had some on-going conversation with Ms Gilleland and Council members and, based on those conversations, he had prepared an ordinance and a new contract. He stated this contract is identical to the current contract, at the same rate that they have been compensated at for the past year so the automatic seven and one-half percent raise would not go into effect. He stated it is for a one-year term and does have a renewal period included. Mr. Sabatino inquired if it would be possible to get a longer window, such as November 1^st, so they would have a little more time to look at this. Mrs. Hammond stated it is already past November 1^st, and Mr. Sabatino clarified he meant for next year. Mr. Hartmann stated December 1^st is just the last date to make a decision, if you don’t contact them by that date it becomes an automatic renewal. Mr. Smith inquired what Council needed to do to comply with these terms. Mr. Hartmann stated if this is passed by Finance tonight to go to the next Council, they would not enforce the seven and one-half percent. Mr. Smith stated it would go to Council on December 4^th if that was not a problem. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve and forward the law contract renewal to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Smith, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sabatino, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

3. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Smith moved to adjourn; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, and Mrs. Hammond voting "Aye." Motion carried, 4-0. The Special Finance Committee adjourned at 7:10 P.M., November 20, 2007.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk