City health insurance debate devolves into accusations
As soon as the health insurance matter was opened for discussion at Tuesday's alderman meeting, Ward 3 Alderwoman
"It seems like every year, we're trying to cram to get the budget done, and although we wanted to started insurance discussions earlier, it just didn't happen," she said.
Smith's idea would involve going to month-to-month coverage with the current carrier and revisiting the insurance issue in January, and putting the health insurance plan on a calendar year cycle, instead of the aldermen having to evaluate budget and health insurance proposals at the same time.
Dillard made a motion to renew the city's contract with
Mayor
"You're not going afford the other company (the opportunity to make a presentation)?" Grennell said to Dillard.
Alderwoman Smith said
so questioned why Ross & Yerger would not be given the same opportunity.
"We've had no discussion on this as a board," she said.
Dillard said he would have no problem with the presentation or discussion. Smith attempted to amend the motion to allow Ross & Yerger's presentation, but did not get a second.
"I think it's very sad for our employees. ... I apologize on behalf of this board for you all and ... to our taxpayers,"
After the meeting,
Ward 4 Alderwoman
The motion then passed 5-1, with
Before a roll call vote was taken, a representative from Ross & Yerger said from the audience that the city was essentially passing on nearly
Following the vote and after further comments from
"With all due respect ... this dissatisfaction with not getting your way on something is a little bit immature to begin with," Dillard said.
After a back and forth between
Based on the city's insurance claims data from the past year from the city and Natchez Water Works, Bond said the city could have save a little more than
"I'd say that is very compelling," he said. "That's worth not having a 5-1 vote."
Bond went on to say Ross & Yerger's plan from BCBS could cut some costs for employees by 10 percent.
The board allowed
The two agents went back and forth for a bit, in an exchange Dillard would later characterize after the meeting as "throwing rocks at each other" and say it was in bad form for the city to have allowed the exchange to happen.
Brumfield with Ross & Yerger urged the board to consider the savings the city could see and pointed out that a document Dillard had been referencing in the meeting was not Ross & Yerger's proposal, but a summary of an ancillary service.
"I mean no disrespect ... but it sounds like you didn't try and look at (our proposal)," he said.
Eventually,
Dillard argued that a motion to rescind had to come from an aldermen on the prevailing side of the motion in question, but City Attorney
The motion failed, with only Davis and
When asked if he felt comfortable voting without evaluating whether the city could actually save
If the city could have the proposals independently evaluated thoroughly, Dillard said he could be open to another potential motion to reconsider, but would likely not make the motion.
The board voted in
At the
A motion was made by then
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