Agency changes disability coverage [The Telegraph, Alton, Ill.]

Jan. 10--ALTON -- Employees of the Alton Housing Authority will be eligible for short-term disability payments based on their salary instead of a flat rate.

The AHA Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday allowing Executive Director Andy Hightower to enlist short-term disability, dental and life insurance with Principal Financial Group for 2010.

The same vote allows the authority to keep vision coverage with Guardian Insurance.

Hightower told commissioners that the previous plan, under Guardian, provided $400 per week in short-term disability benefits, regardless of an employee's annual salary. The new plan pays 66 percent of the employee's salary.

He said the changes will be cheaper for the AHA, by nearly $180 per month. The cost of the vision coverage remains the same.

The board also voted to not use $52,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that was to be used for purchasing replacement housing. Hightower said there is no penalty for declining the money.

He said he had discussed the possibility of buying a single-family home to be used as a public housing unit.

"We need to develop a plan for the $175,000 we will get in five increments for replacement housing," Hightower said, declining to specify how he wants to use the federal funding in coming years.

Commissioners also gave the go-ahead for:

* the AHA to purchase sweatshirts for the GLAD (Girls Learning and Developing) program members and uniforms for the Future All-Stars basketball players from whichever local company provides the lowest bid consistent with the authority's policies.

* Hightower to submit the AHA's annual and five-year plans.

Hightower also reported that he got two bids for installing five security cameras at Oakwood Estates housing complex and three at Alton Acres. He said Ameren gave permission to post the units on its power poles.

Commissioners, though, have not accepted any of the bids.

In other business, Hightower said he plans to meet with the Alton Public Works Department to discuss blocking off Terra Avenue at the upper level of the former Joesting Terrace housing complex, which was demolished.

AHA staff continues monitoring the site to ensure there is no dumping.

[email protected]

To see more of The Telegraph or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thetelegraph.com/.

Copyright (c) 2010, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.