City of Plattsburgh, retirees talks hit snag

April 12--PLATTSBURGH -- Talks on health insurance for the City of Plattsburgh Retirees Association appear to have stalled.

"They (retirees) seemed satisfied, then they met with their attorneys and things changed dramatically," Councilor Josh Kretser said.

Kretser (D-Ward 6) is on the council's Health Care Task Force, working to resolve the dispute with the Retirees Association that has been lingering for some 18 months. The Task Force also includes retirees representatives.

The dispute started when then-Mayor James Calnon offered to switch health-insurance plans for the retirees in a cost-savings move in October 2015, which the Common Council agreed to.

Some of the retirees balked, saying they were promised they would keep their traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and that any changes would be a breach by the city.

They sued, and the case went to court, where it still sits. But the two sides have been talking through the Task Force in recent months to see if they can reach an agreement.

'FRUSTRATED'

At a recent Common Council meeting, several retirees who are part of the suit against the city showed up to voice their displeasure over the situation.

"It is time to end this," said former American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees President Chris Bleaux, who is a retired city worker. "We're frustrated. It's time to settle this."

POTENTIAL SOLUTION

Kretser said he hopes an agreement can be reached soon.

"I've been making it very clear that this is by no means a negotiation," he said.

"They (retirees) sacrificed a lot over the years in raises, and they did what they felt they had to do to keep their level of benefits, so we are looking at this as more of a collaboration with the goal to keep them covered at the level they want and to see if we can get some savings for the city."

Kretser said the talks seemed to have yielded a potential solution recently when the city offered a new plan that the committee felt was just as good or even better than the traditional Blue Cross plan.

He said it would have worked for at least 90 percent of the retirees.

The committee was exploring the idea of keeping a few members who had major health issues or needed an abundance of prescription medications on the Blue Cross plan.

LAST-MINUTE DEMANDS

Retirees Association President Gary Brandstetter said the two sides were close to a deal until the city made some last-minute demands.

He said the city wanted a guarantee that at least 50 percent of the retirees would join the new plan and that they would do so permanently.

Brandstetter said those demands, in the eyes of the retirees, made the switch mandatory instead of optional, which they did not like.

"I think we could have a deal if they (city) would drop those two demands," he said.

NEEDS 50% OR MORE

Kretser said it would not be cost effective for the city to have fewer than 50 percent of the retirees join the new plan.

"The administrative costs would eat up any savings," he said.

"If we get at least 50 percent, we could still see a small savings."

Kretser said the Task Force was also considering a two-year commitment to the new plan instead of a permanent one.

"I am hopeful we can find some kind of resolution," he said.

REMAINS HOPEFUL

Without an agreement, the case remains in court and could end up at trial sometime in May, Brandstetter said.

"(But) we are always willing to sit down and talk," he said.

Mayor Colin Read said the city remains hopeful that the retirees will consider the Task Force's recommendation.

"I hope they will take a week or two more to consider these efforts," he said late last week.

"The judge has asked the plaintiff retirees and the respondent city to meet with him (this) week. Hopefully, more will be known shortly after that."

Email Joe LoTemplio:

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: @jlotemplio

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